First Stena V-Max tanker

The first of Concordia Maritime’s new generation of advanced Stena V-MAX tankers was christened at the Hyundai Heavy Industries Shipyard, South Korea, on 19th April and named the ‘Stena Vision’ by her Godmother, Mrs Karen Fidler, wife of Mr James Fidler, General Manager, Sun Oil Company in Philadelphia. After positioning voyages, the `Stena Vision` will commence a long term charter to Sun Oil Company.

“This ship not only has unique double hull design features, but is also equipped with two separate engines in two completely separate engine rooms, two rudders and sets of steering gear, two propellers and duplicate control systems. The V-MAX is thus designed to overcome any single type of system failure – a yet unrivalled active safety capability which we consider just as important as the passive safety of a double hull.” said Lars Carlsson, Concordia’s Managing Director.

“Statistically more than 30% of serious tanker accidents are caused by vessels losing control due to machinery and system failures. This risk is all but eliminated in the V-MAX.” continued Lars Carlsson. “Using only one of her twin engines, she can manoeuvre during a period of minimum 72 hours at a speed of at least six knots in a head sea and gale force winds of Beaufort force 8. This reserve of power makes her the first VLCC tanker to satisfy Det Norske Veritas’ Redundant Propulsion Separate (RPS) requirements.”

In terms of manoeuvrability the V-MAX performs considerably better than a conventional modern tanker. At a manoeuvring speed of 8 knots her turning circle is tighter than that of a Suezmax of half her size.

The double hull
areas of the vessels most likely to be affected by grounding accidents and thus oil spills have been enlarged by about 50% to enhance protection of the cargo spaces.

Bunker oil, if spilt, causes more damage to the environment than the cargo of crude oil. Therefore, the bunker tanks have been placed in the most protected area of the ship – in the aft part between the propeller shafts, and with double hull protection.

According to statistics, navigation errors account for a about a third of all tanker accidents. Great emphasis has therefore been put on the arrangement, equipment and layout of the navigation bridge, as well as on the training of deck officers. The bridge provides a 360 degree window view from a centralised co-pilot conning station where all control and monitoring can be performed through the state-of-the-art Integrated Bridge Control System (IBCS). Training has been conducted in cooperation with local pilots using a full scale bridge simulation model featuring the vessels« primary trading environment, the Delaware River. The importance of these preparations was highlighted by the Governor of Delaware, Mrs Ruth Ann Minner, who visited the training center during Stena V-MAX training sessions in December 2000.

Affectionately known as ‘the Floating Volvo’ – a nick name branded by Admiral James Card of the U.S. Coast Guard – the V-MAX has slow-speed main engines which satisfy the new IMO requirements for Nitrogen Oxide emissions and also have separate tanks for more environmentally friendly fuel for operation in sensitive areas calling for reduced emissions. She is prepared to be the first large tanker equipped with ‘intelligent’ engines with enhanced combustion control, enabling fuel consumption or NOx emissions to be minimised in each speed range. Also lubrication oil consumption is significantly reduced.

In the interests of long term corrosion resistance, the ballast tanks are double coated with epoxy totalling 300_m, and the cargo tanks are coated from the tank bottom and 1 metre up and from the under deck and 2 metres down; including complete coating of the transverse web frame. Particular efforts have been made in meticulous preparation of the steel surfaces and climate control for ultimate paint adhesion.

The 314,000 dwt vessel is the successful result of 5 years of research, design and planning in the Stena Technical Division in close co-operation with Concordia Maritime and Stena Bulk AB, the classification societies DNV and ABS, SSPA Maritime Consultancy of Gothenburg, the charterer Sun Oil Company and of course the shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries. This team has provided a tanker design with the most efficient oil transportation possible, combined with the highest levels of safety and reliability yet seen in an oil tanker.

From a commercial aspect, the success of the V-MAX is dependent on the return generated by several factors, such as:
• increased safety – generating significant value for the charterer in terms of increased market share and hopefully in turn motivating a higher charter rate in time
• extended ship life – the V-MAX has an advanced corrosion protection system allowing a life expectancy in excess of 30 years
• economies of scale – the V-MAX produces a significant saving in transportation costs, which vary according to increased loads carried and on the loading and discharge times, due to reduced lightering equipment required and resultant quicker turn around

First VLCC design for narrow and shallow waterways
Lars Carlsson, President of Concordia said: “On our calculations, we expect that on average, crude oil transportation costs would be reduced by about 20percent.”

The ‘Stena Vision’ is the first VLCC specifically designed and built to transport large oil cargoes through narrow and shallow waterways such as the Malacca Straits where her intrinsic manoeuvrability and relatively shallow draft provide considerable safety margins as well as high cargo capacity.

“These qualities will enable her to meet the exacting requirements for safe oil transportation in delivering cargoes through the Delaware river to the Sun Company’s Philadelphia refineries, the role for which the Stena V-MAX was initially developed.

“We expect these same qualities to be equally useful throughout developing countries and in particular countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and China where similar (shallow, narrow waterways, not enough deep-sea ports) circumstances to Sun Oil’s refineries exist. The Stena V-MAX provides an ideal solution to ensuring safe and economical transportation of crude oil to “difficult” destinations.

The ‘Stena Vision’ is the first of two V-MAX vessels to be delivered. The sister vessel `Stena Victory` is expected to be delivered to Concordia in July, 2001.

Particulars of the V-MAX

About Concordia
Concordia is an international large-tanker shipping company with the mission to provide reliable and efficient transportation of oil. In addition to the V-MAX vessels, Concordia also owns six large tankers and two self-discharging bulk carriers. Its owned fleet has a capacity of more than 3 million dwt which makes Concordia one of the major ULCC/VLCC shipping companies in the world. In addition to the wholly owned ships, Concordia cooperates closely with Stena Bulk in charter business. Stena Bulk is also the commercial manager for the Concordia fleet.

Concordia’s wholly owned subsidiary, Universe Tankships in New York, has technical and crewing management of the new ships as well as their other existing VLCCs. Concordias« biggest share holder is a company in the Stena Sphere. Stena is a Swedish shipping conglomerate with major activities in Passenger Ferry Traffic, Off shore and Drilling, RoRo vessels but also Real Estate, Metal Trading and Finance. The CEO of the Stena Group, Mr Dan Sten Olsson, is also the Chairman of Concordia Maritime.

Concordia’s Managing Director Mr Lars Carlsson has a dedicated interest in quality shipping and is one of the strongest spokesmen for increased quality in tanker shipping. He is the chairman elect of Intertanko and holds board positions in American Bureau of Shipping, International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation and has advisory board positions in Green Award, Rotterdam and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy