NYK to Build 3 Double-Hull VLCCs
January 6, 20055
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has decided to build three 300,000-DWT VLCCs (Very Large-sized Crude Oil Carriers) with the following specifications:
| Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) | 300,000 tons |
| Gross Tonnage (GT) | 160,300 tons |
| Overall Length | 333m |
| Extreme Breadth | 60m |
| To be built at | IHI Marine United Co. Ltd. |
| Date of Completion | Approx. 2008-2009 |
NYK has already finished placing an order for new vessels with a view to completing the shift of its current VLCC fleet to double-hull structure. Furthermore, in light of future growth in the energy transportation sector, this order has been determined to enlarge the existing VLCC fleet.
NYK's new VLCCs to be built from January 2005 now number 13, including 10 vessels already on order, bringing the total number of NYK's double-hull VLCCs (excluding short-term chartered VLCCs) to 33, together with those already completed.
VLCCs on order| Date of Completion | Shipyard | Contract with |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2005 | Imabari Shipbuilder Co. Ltd | Nippon Oil Corporation |
| Feb 2005 (approx) | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. | Exxon Mobil Corporation |
| *1. Feb 2005 (approx) |
IHI Marine United Inc. | COSMO OIL CO.LTD |
| *2. Aug 2005 (approx) |
Universal Shipbuilding Corporation | COSMO OIL CO.LTD |
| Dec 2005 (approx) | IHI Marine United Inc. | Kyushu Oil Co. Ltd |
| July 2006 (approx) | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. | |
| March 2007 (approx) | IHI Marine United Inc. | |
| April 2007 (approx) | Mitsui Shipbuilding Co. Ltd | |
| April 2007 (approx) | Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation | |
| July 2007 (approx) | Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation |
Notes:
*1. To be co-owned with Shinwa Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd.
*2. To be co-owned with Kyoei Tanker Co., Ltd.
NYK has adopted a double-hull cargo tank since 1996 and in addition has decided to apply, as a standard, a double-hull structure for fuel tanks of all new VLCCs completed from December 2005 onward with a view to protecting the marine environment.
The width between the outside shell and the fuel oil tank will be over 2 meters as with cargo tanks. Thus, separating all oil (including cargo oil) shipped in the vessels by 2m from the outside shell, it is able to minimize risks to the environment due to oil spillage at the time of the hull being damaged.
