The Onassis-controlled company Springfield Shipping is about to convert two oil-bulk-ore (OBO) carriers to 319, 869 dwt VLCCs at Oman Drydock Company (ODC), Oman.
Both OBO carriers were originally built for Nobu Su's TMT. The multimillion dollar conversions will be made in the Oman Drydock Company (ODC), managed and operated by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).
The 319,869 dwt Selma B (ex-D Whale), built in 2010 will be converted and renamed as the Olympic Lion. The 319,900 dwt Camilla T (ex-H Whale), built in 2009, will be converted and become the Olympic Leopard. Works on the project are set to begin in June.
Image by: Arjan Elmendorp
Oman Drydock Company delivered the OBO-to-VLCC conversion Olympic Luck (ex-B Whale, 319,900 dwt, built 2010) to Springfield in January 2015.
Dr Abdulmalik Bin Abdullah Al Hinai, the ODC chairman said:
"The Olympic Luck was the first major conversion job we had undertaken and its success was a tremendous showcase for the world class workforce, skills and infrastructure that we have here at ODC. Converting the Olympic Lion and Olympic Leopard will send a big message to the industry about ODC's capabilities, competitive advantages and ambitions for future growth."
The ODC Head official said that construction work would begin in June. Approximately 500 workers will be occupied in the project and over 6,000 tonnes of steel will be used for the ship conversions.
Yong Duk Park, the ODC Chief Executive said the conversions will be managed using the highly sophisticated expertise of their long-term partner DSME.
According to ODC Chief Executive Park, only few other shipyards in the Gulf can match the ODC level of conversion and shipbuilding skills and this is because of their partnership with Daewoo Shipbuilding
"These complex, rigorous and demanding conversions will use DSME broad knowledge of precision engineering and design innovation to inform our construction methods. 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."
Dimitris Patrikios, General Manager of the Greek Springfield Shipping Company said the Oman Drydock Company had been chosen following the immensely impressive job it delivered on the Olympic Luck.
"ODC proved its commitment to the highest standards of excellence on the Olympic Luck. We are pleased to award the contract for these two major new conversions to ODC based on quality and the strong working relationship we have built up with its team. ODC has facilities that are truly world class and its team works enormously hard to find efficient solutions to difficult challenges. We very much look forward to working on these conversions and then seeing these magnificent vessels transport oil safely around the world,” he said.