AET, the tanker arm of Malaysian shipping giant MISC Berhad, has taken delivery of the first of three suezmax dynamic positioning (DP2) shuttle tankers purpose-built for Shell.
The 153,600-dwt Eagle Campos will operate on long-term charter to Brazil Shipping I, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Shell, in the Brazilian Basin.
Shell and AET agreed in December 2019 to build the eco-friendly vessels. The Eagle Campos' two sister vessels are under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea, with delivery due this year.
The DNV-classed tankers will be in full compliance with International Maritime Organization NOx Tier 3 and SOx emission requirements and will be fitted with energy-saving devices such as the Hi Pre-Swirl Duct and Rudder Bulb for improved propulsion efficiency. They are also Energy Efficiency Design Index Phase 2 compliant.
Amit Pal, AET global director, dynamic positioning shuttle tankers (DPSTs), described the delivery as a milestone in its growing partnership with Shell globally.
"Constructing, fulfilling the stringent tests and delivering Eagle Campos safely during an ongoing pandemic is a huge achievement," he said.
"For AET, this latest vessel delivery further fortifies our position as a leading owner and operator of 12 of these highly specialised DP shuttle tankers globally."
Eight of the vessels, including the newbuilding, are now operating in the Brazilian Basin.
AET has five other DP2 shuttle tankers under construction to be delivered this year, which will bring its global DPST fleet to 17, with 13 operating offshore Brazil.
