DOUBLE HULLED TANKER TO SEE DUTY OFF NORWAY

A joint venture of Norsk Hydro AS and Saga Petroleum AS has chartered a new double bottom, double hulled tanker to transport crude offloaded from three fields in the Norwegian North Sea to come on stream in the mid - 1990S. The 1 billion kroner ($172 million) charter agreement will run during 1993-2007, with an option to extend. Norwegian shipowner Knutsen O.A.S. Haugesund has ordered the 15,750 dwt vessel from Astilleros Espanoles SA, Bilbao, Spain. Knutsen has an option to charter a sister

Dec. 17, 1990

The 1 billion kroner ($172 million) charter agreement will run during 1993-2007, with an option to extend.

Norwegian shipowner Knutsen O.A.S. Haugesund has ordered the 15,750 dwt vessel from Astilleros Espanoles SA, Bilbao, Spain.

Knutsen has an option to charter a sister ship to the two Norwegian oil firms.

The new vessel will lift crude from Snorre, Statfjord East, and Tordis oil fields. Later, the tanker transportation system may extend to the 34/8 discovery-how named Visund-in the North Sea and Njord, Heidrun, and Midgard fields on the Haltenbanken area off Norway.

Hydro and Saga said emphasis is being placed on vessel safety. In addition to the double bottom and sides, a condensation system will be installed to eliminate hydrocarbon emissions to the atmosphere during loading.