BW Tankers to build VLCCs in China
28 February 2006
In an official ceremony in Beijing today, BW Tankers signed contracts to build two new VLCCs at Bohai Shipyard. These will be the largest VLCCs ever built in China. BW will take delivery of the vessels in 2009 and 2010.
The specifications were jointly developed between BW Tankers, Bohai Shipyard, part of the CSIC Shipbuilding Group, and DNV. They will be amongst the first vessels built in China to follow the Joint Tanker Project’s Common Structural Rules for Double Hull Oil Tankers.
Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Managing Director of BW Shipping (Singapore) commented: “Given the group’s heritage in China and our work with the Chinese shipbuilding industry since the 1980s, we are delighted to be building these vessels in China.”
BW’s long-standing interest in Chinese shipbuilding capability started with founder Sir YK Pao placing China’s first export orders at the Hudong and Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai in 1979. “Chinese yards will be a dominant force in shipbuilding,” said Billy Chiu, Commercial and Operations Director at BW Shipping (Singapore). “They will continue to be good partners for BW.”
Yesterday, BW Shipping also announced the acquisition of eight new product tankers which will be built at Dalian Shipyard in China. “The BW group is committed to all our key markets of tankers, gas, dry bulk and offshore,” said Sohmen-Pao, “and we continue to look for growth opportunities that will enable us to support our customers’ needs.”
Information on BW
The BW group controls a fleet of over 120 vessels involved in the transportation of crude oil, gas (LNG and LPG) and dry bulk commodities as well as floating oil and gas production. Through its predecessor companies, Bergesen and World-Wide Shipping, it has been delivering energy and other vital commodities for a combined 120 years.
The group recently re-branded and re-structured under a single BW brand. The group is now divided into four distinct business areas: BW Tankers, BW Gas, BW Bulk and BW Offshore. These businesses are supported by a global network of affiliate offices known as BW Shipping.
BW Shipping is one of the world’s leading tanker operators, with a fleet of 21 VLCCs operating worldwide. An additional four VLCC newbuildings, including the two Bohai newbuildings, will be delivered between 2007 and 2010. BW Shipping provides commercial and technical management to the BW Group’s tanker fleet. It has had a formal office presence in China since 2002.
The Bohai newbuildings will be 320,000 dwt.
Please also see www.bergesenworldwide.com and www.bwshipping.com
Information on the Joint Tanker Project
The Joint Tanker Project has developed a set of unified Rules and Procedures for the determination of the structural requirements for oil tankers. It utilised the experience and resources of ABS, DNV and LR to develop a single common standard.
The new rules fully embrace the anticipated IMO requirements for goal-based new construction standards.
