Springfield Shipping Continues Bulker to VLCC Conversions

Oman Drydock Company (ODC) has been awarded two multi-million dollar Oil Bulk Ore (OBO) to Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) conversion contracts by Greek ship owner Springfield Shipping, the company revealed at Nor Shipping 2015 in Oslo.

The contracts will see ODC convert the recently bought 319,869 dwt metre long 2010 built Selma B to the Olympic Lion and the 2009 built Camilla T to the Olympic Leopard.

The deal follows an identical job ODC completed for Springfield, part of the Onassis Foundation, on the Olympic Luck which was successfully completed in January this year.

ODC chairman Dr Abdulmalik Bin Abdullah Al Hinai said he anticipated that work would begin in June and will employ around 500 workers and would involve more than 6,000 tons of steel.

ODC Chief Executive Yong Duk Park said the conversions will be managed using the expertise of South Korean shipbuilding giant DSME which is ODC’s partner.

”These complex, rigorous and demanding conversions will use DSME’s broad knowledge of precision engineering and design innovation to inform our construction methods,” Park said.

”As with the Olympic Luck we expect to fabricate close to 40 blocks between 50 and 80 tonnes for each vessel. This will enable us to build in larger portions, reducing on time and cost.”