Odfjell nr 3 - 2006.indd

The Dolphin is trading
Naming and delivery of Bao Hai Tun in China
By Tore Jakobsen
Our first Chinese
coastal chemical tanker
was delivered and
named M/T Bao Hai
Tun in a ceremony on
September 13th at the
Yangzhou Kejin Shipbuilding.
Representatives
from Odfjell,
our joint venture partner Dong Zhan Oil
Transportation Co. and the yard were
gathered to celebrate the proof of our
entry into the domestic market in China.
The vessel will have Chinese flag, class
and crew, and be managed and operated
by Odfjell Dong Zhan Shipping (Shanghai)
Co. Ltd (ODZ), for the purpose of
participating in the Chinese cabotage
trade. Bao Hai Tun is 3,860 dwt with ten
segregations and MarineLine tank coating
providing high cargo flexibility. The
name means, with some flexible translation
into Chinese, Bow Dolphin.
Odfjell’s newbuilding team has been responsible
for the supervision of the construction
and delivery of the vessel in
accordance with the building contract.
Odfjell Asia, Singapore has assisted ODZ
with ship management services, including
manning and crew training before
delivery.
The Chinese production capacity for
bulk chemicals is expected to double
in the years to come, and a significant
portion of this will require inland distribution.
The expected increase in both
Chinese exports and imports of relevant
products will further boost the demand
for coastal transportation. Accordingly,
it is an interesting time to establish our
presence in this market – especially as
most of the current coastal fleet is old
and lacks chemical capability.
ODZ is one of the five joint ventures
with international participation, based
on license from the Chinese authorities.
We have years of experience in
the Chinese market, both through the
regional shipping services offered out
of Singapore but also through operating
our sophisticated terminal in Dalian.
Through ODZ our customers may enjoy
a new service.
The ship naming ceremony itself was a
grand event with the flowers, confetti,
dancing of the Dragon and of course the
Lady Sponsor – Ms Zhao Wei – breaking
the champagne bottle. She is the wife
of the chairman of ODZ, Mr. Chen Guan
Qiang.
Among other prominent guests were
Mr. Zhu Guohe, general manager of
ODZ, Mr. Xie Chuan Yong, the general
manager of Yangzhou Kejin Shipbuilding,
Mr. Atle Knutsen of Odfjell Asia as
well as Mr. Kjell Mikalsen and Mr. Bjarte
Vågsholm from our newbuilding team.
The ceremony, also attended by friends
and family of our Chinese colleagues
and partners, was followed by a dinner
in Yangzhou. The celebrations in general
were both friendly and lively, boding
well for future cooperation.
Bao Hai Tun seen from the deck
The deck seen from the bridge
Traditional dragon dance
ODFJELL Quarterly September 2006 17