Malaysian tanker owner AET is to convert two Aframax newbuildings into modular capture vessels (MCVs).This move was made possible by the securing of a 20-year contract with US-based Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC).
AET said the 107,000 dwt vessels will be modified at the Tsuneishi Tadotsu shipyard in Japan where the original order was placed.
“The two tankers will be fitted with dynamic positioning technology and modularised processing equipment, additional accommodation, a turret assembly and a tandem offloading system,” AET said in a statement.
The units were expected to be delivered in June and September 2011, respectively.
Upon delivery, the tankers, which will be used to process, store and offload oil to shuttle tankers for MWCC’s operation in the US Gulf, will trade in the spot market while they wait for work.
MWCC was founded by ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Shell to deliver an improved containment response capability for underwater blowouts in the US Gulf.
Other members now include BP, Apache, Anadarko, BHP Billiton, Statoil and Hess, according to the group’s website.
The system was inspired by US Gulf the oil spill, which devastated the US Gulf coast more than a year ago.
AET said the 107,000 dwt vessels will be modified at the Tsuneishi Tadotsu shipyard in Japan where the original order was placed.
“The two tankers will be fitted with dynamic positioning technology and modularised processing equipment, additional accommodation, a turret assembly and a tandem offloading system,” AET said in a statement.
The units were expected to be delivered in June and September 2011, respectively.
Upon delivery, the tankers, which will be used to process, store and offload oil to shuttle tankers for MWCC’s operation in the US Gulf, will trade in the spot market while they wait for work.
MWCC was founded by ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Shell to deliver an improved containment response capability for underwater blowouts in the US Gulf.
Other members now include BP, Apache, Anadarko, BHP Billiton, Statoil and Hess, according to the group’s website.
The system was inspired by US Gulf the oil spill, which devastated the US Gulf coast more than a year ago.