Italians award OBO-to-tanker contract

Premuda has awarded Skipskonsulent in Norway a major conversion design contract. Premuda from Genoa, Italy has a number of 12-14 year old Swedish-built OBOs, which are to be converted to Panamax Tankers. The conversion involves removing the entire cargo section and forebody forward of the engine room bulkhead. A completely new cargo tank section and bow will be built. The vessels will also be lengthened from 206.87m to 227.57m. The job will involve about 9,000t of new steel structure. During the conversion work, which is expected to take place at Shanhaiguan shipyard in China, the vessels will also be refitted and upgraded to meet all new IMO and other international requirements. They will be classed by ABS. As tankers, the converted ships are expected to extend their useful life by 12-15 years. Skipskonsulent AS is responsible for feasibility studies, basic design and classification drawings for the conversions. Once converted, the tankers will have a deadweight of about 65,000t, and cargo tank capacity of about 71,000m3. They will be fitted with submerged FRAMO deepwell cargo pumps, one in each tank.