Stena V-Max VLCCs delivered

HHI has been involved in a high-profile newbuilding contract with Concordia Maritime, a public tanker company of the Swedish-based Stena organisation, which involved building two innovative 315,000 dwt VLCC at its Ulsan shipyard. The first vessel, Stena Vision, was handed over to Concordia on 19 April with the second unit, Stena Victory, following on 30 June. Based on the revolutionary Stena V-Max design, this VLCC pair has, in addition to double hulls, two completely separate engine rooms, twin rudders and twin propellers. This duplication gives the VLCC substantial redundancy capabilities while providing the crude carrier with manoeuvrability far superior to that of other conventional VLCCs. Another advantage is that one main engine can be shut down for maintenance while the vessel continues its voyage with the other. The main feature of the V-Max design is that these 333 metre long ships feature an exceptionally beamy, shallow-draught hull form. They have a beam of 70 metres compared to the normal 58 to 60 metres for the standard VLCC which makes it possible for these ships to offer a 30% higher loading capacity on a limited design draught of 16.76 metres. Hyundai Shipyard won the new building order for two sisterships from Concordia Maritime on December 17, 1998. Both vessels are operating under a three-year charter to Sun Company in Philadelphia, one of the largest independent US petroleum refining-marketers, and will supply two refineries located on the Delaware River near Philadelphia.