Odfjell nr 3 - 2006.indd

Going double
Experiences from converting the first KSEC class
vessels to double hulls
In our March 2006 issue, we described the background for
converting the KSEC class of vessels built in South Korea
1986-1988, and presented the project proceedings up to
awarding the contract. At the time of writing, one vessel is
already successfully converted and two are in process. In this
issue we are happy to let Captain Ruben Hilario of Bow Lion
and Ashok Nair, Superintendent of Bow Leopard, share their
experiences with the Quarterly readers.
Bow Lion - the first one off
By Captain Ruben Q. Hilario, Bow Lion
Bow Lion was delivered from Korea
early 1988, and after 18 years of continuous
trading with chemicals and
clean petroleum products all over the
globe, she was still in very good shape.
However, the single-side wing tanks
were increasingly becoming a commercial
and operational handicap. Prior to
conversion, we had to operate with a
double set of pollution certificates
depending on whether we were a
chemical or product tanker by definition.
To bring the KSEC ships up to current
regulatory and customer requirements,
Odfjell decided to install double
side sections. Today, Bow Lion is
in compliance with the latest Marpol
regimes. Further, the vessel had its bridge
equipment upgraded, involving the
Voyage Data Recorder, Electronic Charts
Display and Information System, GPS,
Echo sounder and Collision Radar.
We left Nantong Shipyard after the
works were completed at noon 8th
July 2006. The following day we were
hit by the typhoon “Ewiniar”. The
vessel was in ballast condition, but still
we observed that Bow Lion is more
stable as a double hull ship. Of course we
worried about the new blocks, we even
joked about perhaps having to go back
to the shipyard without the double skin.
Luckily, everything was tested ok.
The start was quite hectic, with loading
in South Korea only a day’s sailing from
the Cosco yard. However, we managed
to handle the challenge of satisfactory
tank cleaning, a considerable task due
to the presence of sandblasting grits in
the new wing tanks. We also completed
the BP vetting and CDI inspections with
positive results. On her second “maiden
voyage”, Bow Lion loaded various
grades of lubes and vegetable oils in
South Korea and Malaysia. The vessel
called Durban for her first double-hull
discharge and loaded various grades of
alcohol in Mossel Bay for destination
Rotterdam and Hamburg.
Part of the old single side has been cut out to give
room for the first double-side block
Conversion completed
4 ODFJELL Quarterly September 2006