OREANDA-NEWS. November 03, 2010.SCF Group and Zvezda-DSME, the Joint Venture between United Shipbuilding Corporation(USC) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd (DSME), completed negotiations and signed agreements for the construction of a series of tankers designed for the transportation of crude oil and oil products.

The agreements envisage the construction of six vessels between 2012 and 2014, including two LR2 product carriers (117,800 dwt, ice class 1C according to international classification) and four Aframax tankers, designed to carry crude oil (120,600 dwt). The agreements include an owner’s option for the construction of six more Aframax and LR2 ships.

The specifications for the LR2 vessels, to be constructed in accordance with Lloyds Register’s classification rules, will make these ships differ significantly from the tankers of the same type ordered today:

- The energy efficiency index of the new ships, determined in accordance of IMO approved methods, is 10 per cent higher than the standard index for ships of similar class;
- The ship’s design envisages the possibility of the prolonged use of low-sulphur fuel (0.1 per cent). In combination with other measures, this is designed to achieve a major reduction in emissions, making the project one of the most environmentally safe;
- The scantling draught is limited to 14.6m, and moulded breadth is increased up to 46m, allowing the vessel to have the maximum possible cargo capacity for the passage through the Baltic straits, and corresponding to the conditions for the seaborne transportation of hydrocarbons from the oil terminals of Primorsk and Ust-Luga;
- The ships’ cargo system allows the simultaneous carriage and transfer four different types of cargo, contained in twelve coated cargo tanks. The use of special paints to coat the tank surfaces will greatly enhance the range of cargoes that can be transported.

A range of technical solutions have been used to implement the project, which will give tankers of the series competitive operational advantages. In particular, a special rudder design has been used to increase the propulsion efficiency and manoeuvrability of the ship. The tanker’s hull will be coated with special antifouling paints, with a low friction coefficient and an effective life of more than five years. Equipment has been installed to continuously monitor the optimum parameters of speed, draft and trim, in accordance with the vessel’s load and navigation conditions. A set of features has been implemented to enable the safe operation of the vessel and its equipment in low temperatures (up to -25°C).
The company’s standards in respect of seafarers’ living and working conditions have been fully implemented (individual comfortable cabins; fixed standard climate conditions in the accommodation; optimal illumination).

On the basis of technical solutions applied in the LR2 ships project, the Aframax tankers will be built with a modification to their cargo capabilities, to facilitate crude oil transportation.

Sovcomflot’s Senior Executive Vice-President Evgeny Ambrosov said: “Keeping in mind the growing requirements of regulators and shippers in respect of safe energy transportation, we devote serious attention to reconciling the technical specifications of the vessels ordered, with a view to building the best tankers in their class, measured by their energy efficiency and technical solutions. In accordance with current Sovcomflot procedures, the contract signing was preceded by a thorough evaluation process to select a shipyard. The offer made by the Zvezda joint venture was the optimal one. All the work of technical and commercial parameter reconciliation, as well as yard selection was performed with the direct participation of specialists from our Novoship subsidiary, who will track the project’s implementation and the tankers’ operation afterwards.”
Sovcomflot UK Managing Director, Executive Board Member Callum Ludgate underlined: “The planned renovation of our company’s Aframax tanker fleet, as well as our growing capabilities in the LR2 segment are stipulated in the Group’s Investment Programme for 2010 – 2015. SCF Group is the world’s leader in the Aframax tanker segment – the ships most in demand for the transportation of oil both from Russian and foreign ports, with due regard for the changing geography of the seaborne transportation of oil in the world.”
The President of USC Roman Trotsenko noted: “The work performed under the signed set of agreements is directly connected with the construction of a new modern shipyard in Russia’s Far East – the first yard in the country’s history which will build large-capacity ships. During the construction of the first two tankers at DSME yard, in the Republic of Korea, intensive training of the JV “Zvezda-DSME” personnel will take place. The process of mastering modern shipbuilding technologies by Russian specialists will be arranged. All in all more than 500 engineers, designers and professional workers will take part in this training. Part of block hull construction of the third and the fourth tankers will be performed at the new yard “Zvezda-DSME”. The fifth and the sixth tankers will be completely constructed in Russia. The personnel training programme and mastering of modern shipbuilding technologies will allow the construction of ships and marine equipment to start at the new yard “Zvezda-DSME” in time for and to an international quality standard, to meet the needs of prospective offshore projects in Russia.”

DSME’s CEO & President Nam Sang-Tae said: “We welcome the first serial order received by the Russian-Korean Joint Venture Zvezda-DSME (established in the Primorsk Region), which, after major reconstruction and personnel training, is to start building oil tankers, LNG tankers and producing platforms for offshore fields.”

“This is a contract of honour for Lloyd’s Register, not only because of our supporting the first project for the new yard – the Joint Venture Zvezda-DSME, but likewise because the tankers’ equipment will meet the requirements for the most modern technologies aimed at energy saving and environment protection, which puts an emphasis on this innovation project of Aframax tankers, specially designed for operation in the Baltic and Black Seas,” noted Tom Boardley, Marine Director of Lloyd’s Reister.

The first tanker built for Sovcomflot Group, as a part of a joint project “Zvezda-DSME”, is expected to be delivered for operation in the middle of 2012.