EAGLE VIRGINIA Speed log for efficient lightering

American Eagle Tankers? Eagle Virginia, is believed to be the first VLCC to be equipped with a Dual Axis Doppler Speed Log, according to the company?s chief executive officer Joseph Kwok.

The Doppler speed log is designed to improve the ship?s manoeuvrability especially at lower speeds. It enables the captain to monitor the ship?s speed and distance as it enters dock, a requirement that AET learned from its lightering experience with Aframaxes.

Delivered by Korea?s Hyundai Heavy Industries in the first quarter of this year, the 319,000 dwt double hulled vessel has been used for medium and short haul transportation of oil.

AET – Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines? (NOL) subsidiary – is satisfied with the tanker?s performance so far. No modifications or adjustments to the vessel design or its equipment have had to be made.

The main engine?s low revolutions features have been performing well. Teh Kong Leong, NOL?s executive vice president of technical services, says that the vessel is equipped with a cylinder cut out system, where the operation of certain cylinders are cut when the engine is running at low speeds. This helps optimise fuel consumption.

Meanwhile, the Eagle Virginia?s Dual Axis Doppler Speed Log has been performing well and has been particularly helpful during ship-to-ship operations, he says.

Eagle Virginia was the subject of a story in the February 2002 issue.