AET names LNG-fueled DPST pair

Singapore-headquartered petroleum tanker owner and operator AET, named two of the world’s first LNG dual-fuel dynamic positioning shuttle tankers (DPSTs).

The vessels will emit 40-48 percent less carbon than equivalent vessels built in 2008, meeting the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of reducing carbon (CO2) emissions by 40 percent against 2008 baselines by 2030, and halving CO2 emissions by 2050.

The sister twin-skeg 123,100-dwt shuttle tankers, Eagle Blane and Eagle Balder, were unveiled at a naming ceremony held at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) Geoje Shipyard, South Korea.

The vessels will serve Norwegian energy company Equinor on long-term charter for operations both in oilfields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf of the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and the southern Barents Sea, as well as on the UK Continental Shelf.

Powered using liquified natural gas (LNG) as the primary fuel, the LNG dual-fuel DPSTs will also be able to capture 100 percent of the harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC) which escape into the air from crude oil cargoes during loading and voyage for reuse as a supplementary fuel.

The vessels have been constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), for AET Sea Shuttle AS (AETSS), a joint venture between Norwegian shipping company ADS Shipping and AET Tankers, as the owner and commercial operator of the vessels.

Project management for the newbuilds was provided by MISC Group’s marine services arm Eaglestar and Norwegian third-party ship management company, OSM Maritime.