In 2006 and 2007 Inocean did engineering work and class documentation in a project entailing the conversion of a total of six Suezmax tankers into heavy-lift vessels. In 2010 the owner, Dockwise, concludes that the concept has been a success.
The right choice at the right moment
For Inocean this project was quite a challenge, mainly because of the execution time. The project achieved class approval of main steel in just two months, including 90 percent of all classification documentation related to stability, safety, fire, electro and marine systems.
Fast-track conversion
During the conversion an entire new midsection was constructed and then fitted to the bow and aft part of the tankers. Inocean delivered building specifications, drawings and documentations up to Classification Approval for yard fabrication and assisted the yard and the client's site team with fabrication supervision. Total construction time from project engineering start to delivery of the first vessel was 18 months. The last vessel was delivered in December 2008.
After Sealift and Dockwise merged in April 2007, all the vessels were integrated in the Dockwise fleet. We asked the Dutch company: How are these vessels operating today?
"The right choice"
"The conversion of the T-Class has proved to be the right choice at the right moment," says Aart van der Lelij, Project Manager Operations at Dockwise. "The vessels have proven their capabilities for transportation of jack-up rigs. They have also been involved in various other cargoes, ranging from barges and ro-ro cargo, to offshore constructions.
Commercially versatile
He continuous: "Another advantage is to have six vessels of the same type. This reduces mobilization costs due to the exchange capabilities of the vessels, making them commercially very versatile."
Picture 1: Debalasting to transit draft
Picture 2: Ocean Scepter on Treasure