TI Asia

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Career Belgium[1]
Name: TI Asia
Owner: Euronav NV
Completed: 2002
Status: Active In Service
General characteristics
Type: Ultra Large Crude Carrier (V-Plus)
Tonnage: 234006 GT[1]
Length: 1,247 feet (380 m)[1]
Draft: 24.525 metres (80.46 ft)[2]
Capacity: 441893 DWT[1],3,166,353 barrels (503,409,900 l)[2]

The TI Asia is one of the four largest double-hulled supertankers in the world. The oil tanker was constructed for the Greek shipping company Hellespont in South Korea's Daewoo yard in 2002.[3]

The vessels were jointly bought in 2004 by the companies Euronav and OSG. The four sister ships, which were originally known as the Hellespont Fairfax, Hellespont Tara, Hellespont Alhambra and Hellespont Metropolis, have been since renamed to TI Oceania, TI Europe, TI Asia and TI Africa respectively. The "TI" referring to the VLCC Tanker Pool operators Tankers International. The TI Asia and TI Europe are now owned by Euronav NV a Belgian shipowner, and the TI Africa and TI Oceania are owned by the Overseas Shipholding Group, a US shipowner.

The four tankers are notable for being built to a high specification. For example, their relatively high service speed (16.5 knots laden, 17.5 knots in ballast) increases their earning capacity and provides charterers with greater operational flexibility. The steel scantlings are greater than the class minimum. Efforts are also made to extend the life of coatings in the ballast tanks. This is helped by the double-scrubbing system supplying drier inert gas to the ballast tanks, and also by the white hull reflecting the sun’s energy. Keeping down the cargo temperatures also minimizes hydrocarbon emissions. [4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d United States Coast Guard, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Tankers Internatioal, 2008.
  3. ^ Marine Log, 2002.
  4. ^ Wärtsilä

[edit] References