- Double-hulled tanker design will use 8,000 tons more steel than a comparably sized tanker intended for an average international trade route. Artist's concept courtesy of ARCO Marine Inc.
- Tanker designed to carry products: The product tanker American Progress, shown here during its builder's trials, was delivered in September to Mobil Corp. Mobil will use the 46,000-dwt tanker to carry petroleum products from Texas to Florida. The Double-Eagle-class ship is the first double-hulled tanker built in a U.S. shipyard that meets the requirements of the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, says builder Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va. Newport News Shipbuilding has contracts for eight more Double Eagle tankers. Photo courtesy of Newport News Shipbuilding.
Work is scheduled to begin in December on its Millennium Class tanker.
The company let contract to Avondale Industries Inc., New Orleans, to build two of the 125,000-dwt vessels, with an option for three more. ARCO says the first vessel is scheduled to be placed in service in February 2000.
Vessel size of 125,000 dwt is the maximum permitted in Puget Sound. The double-hulled tankers are designed mainly for the 1,200-mile voyage from Valdez, Alas., to Cherry Point, Wash.
The tanker
ARCO says the new tanker is specifically designed to carry crude oil, and it meets or exceeds regulations of the International Maritime Organization and requirements of the 1990 Oil Pollution Act that mandated phasing out of single-hulled tankers.In addition to the double hulls, the ship's design incorporates fully independent engine rooms, redundant propulsion, twin steering systems, and separate bow thruster.
The two engine rooms are separated by a fireproof, watertight bulkhead.
The new ships will be equipped with advanced navigation tools, including electronic chart display and information system, three automatic plotting collision avoidance radars, and global marine distress and safety systems. Navigation systems automatically warn the bridge if the ship is even slightly off course.
Capacities
Each ship contains 12 cargo tanks that hold a combined capacity of a little more than 1 million bbl of crude. The Millennium Class tanker measures 895 ft long with a beam of 151.6 ft. The ships will be able to call at all refining centers on the U.S. West Coast and repair facilities in Portland, Ore.ARCO Marine says the new tanker is designed to have excellent structural performance for 30 years. It is custom designed from the keel up and is matched to its mission to operate in Alaska, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and northern Puget Sound, the company notes.
The ship's 3,000-hp bow thruster will have as much power as a conventional docking tug, capable of turning the bow into a 27-knot wind. With its bow thruster and reversible propellers, the ship will be capable of turning in a complete circle within its own length.
As of this past July, the company operates a fleet of 10 vessels with a total capacity of 9.5 million bbl. Eight of the vessels carry crude oil, two carry products, and all serve the U.S. West Coast.
Also as of July, ARCO Marine vessels have delivered 3.15 billion bbl of oil on more than 3,500 voyages since the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System started up in August 1977.
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