More VLCC to very large ore carriers (VLOC) conversion vessels in the Polaris fleet appear set for repair in China, according to automatic identification system data.
The whole Polaris 1990s-built fleet of 18 VLCC-to-VLOC conversions has been undergoing safety checks by classification societies — the Korean Register of Shipping and Lloyd's Register, while flag state the Marshall Islands has also been inspecting the ships.
The safety programme was triggered after the loss in March of the Stellar Daisy (built 1993), a converted VLCC that suffered catastrophic structural failure en route to China from Brazil fully laden with Vale iron ore. The tragedy claimed 22 seafarers' lives.
It appears to be an attempt to make sure the fleet of conversions can trade on safely until charterer Vale receives its newbuilding replacements.
Another converted VLCC, the 279,000-dwt Stellar Unicorn (built 1993), has now joined the 261,000-dwt Stellar Cosmo (built 1992) and 263,000-dwt Stellar Galaxy (built 1993) in anchorage at the layup site off Labuan in Malaysia.
Polaris earlier told TradeWinds that it viewed Labuan as a place to anchor vessels prior to drydocking. It also said it is considering scrapping some vessels if repairs are too expensive.
Earlier this year, the Stellar Unicorn was forced to divert to Cape Town en route to China after encountering structural problems
There are three other Vale VLOCs apparently lined up for drydocking that are moored off the Chinese shiprepair region of Zhoushan.
The 305,000-dwt Stellar Queen (built 1994) is indicating it is heading for Zhejiang Eastern Shipyard (Zesco) in Zhoushan. The ship earlier suffered structural problems with cracks in deck plating and underwent initial repairs in Brazil.
The 267,000-dwt Stellar Journey (built 1994) is also at Zesco Zhoushan, as is the 298,000-dwt Stellar Magic (built 1994).
The 288,000-dwt Stellar Iris (built 1995) and 301,000-dwt Stellar Hermes (built 1994), which have both undergone extensive repairs in China, are back trading for Vale again.
