First ?Comfort Conscious? VLCC

The National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), the leading Iranian tanker company, has recently taken delivery of its latest newbuilding, the 320,000 dwt Marbat, from Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea. The ship is notable as being the first VLCC to have DNV?s highest ?comfort? notation ? COMF-V(1). This means that seafarers aboard this tanker will enjoy very low noise and vibration levels similar to those prevailing on many of the world?s cruise ships.

The move reflects a growing trend among ship and offshore operators to improve onboard working conditions. With the personnel and skills shortage now at crisis level, most operators recognise that attracting and retaining well-trained crews is one of the biggest challenges facing both the maritime and offshore industries.

To date, there are 400-plus vessels with DNV?s ?comfort? notation. It comes with three different ratings, 1 being the highest, and follows extensive research carried out by the class society and Norwegian oil company Statoil into the effects of noise, vibration and climate in the offshore onboard environment.

Reduced noise and vibration is one of a whole host of measures adopted by NITC in its latest generation of tankers to enhance crew comfort and safety. Others include a more powerful air-conditioning system, larger cabins than normal, a recreation room equipped with the latest flat-screen TV and hi-fi system, a fully-equipped gym with outside views, and crew access internet. In addition, each vessel has an onboard classroom and extra cabins to carry 10 cadets and a training officer.

NITC is a fully independent company after privatisation in 2000 and is now owned by private pension funds in Iran. In December 2007, NITC was unanimously approved as a full member of Intertanko, membership of which is open only to independent (non-oil company and non-state owned) tanker owners.