Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 1969)

Sixth 326,000-DWT Tanker Delivered To Gulf?Four More To Be Built In Spanish Yards The Universe Iran, sixth and last of Gulf Oil Corporation's series of Japanese-built 326,-000-dwt tankers, was christened recently at a sea berth in Nagasaki Bay. But already the Corporation is looking forward to the con-struction of four more tankers of this size? the world's largest?this time in Spanish ship-yards. Since the first of the 326's, the Universe Ire-land, sailed September 27, 1968, on her maiden voyage to Bantry Bay, Ireland, three more have begun delivering crude for Gulf from Middle East oil fields to Europe. They have made ten round trips to date to deliver a total of 24?000,000 barrels of crude. The Universe Ireland and the Universe Kuwait each have completed four voyages, and the Universe Japan and the Universe Portu-gal one each. The Universe Korea, completed at Yokohama June 21, and the Universe Iran already are enroute to join them. The first stage of Gulf's construction pro-gram for 326,000-dwt tankers was completed in brief but colorful ceremonies as Madame Hushang Ansary, wife of the Iranian ambassa-dor to Washington, christened the Universe Iran from a floating crane festooned with red and white bunting. Those attending the ceremony included Am-bassador Ansary, making a homecoming visit to the country where he spent many years as a student and counselor to the Iranian Em-bassy in Tokyo; Iran's present ambassador to Japan, F. Nouredin Kia; officials of Nagasaki City and prefecture and representatives of Gulf Oil, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ishi-kawajima Heavy Industries and National Bulk Carriers. Mitsubishi and Ishikawajima each built three of the 326's. Mitsubishi delivered the Universe Iran to National Bulk Carriers, the owner, in July. Gulf will operate the vessels under long-term charter. The Iran left immediately to join her five sisterships in ferrying 2,400,000 barrels of crude oil per trip from the Middle East to Gulf's 900,000-ton storage terminal on Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay. Among its various in-ternational operations, Gulf holds an interest in the Iranian Consortium. The second phase construction program, in Spain, will produce ships some of which will be used to supply a refinery under construc-tion at Bilboa, Spain, in which Gulf will have a minority interest. Gulf has other very large crude carriers under charter ranging from 210,-000 to 275,000 dwt from various companies. In addition to the Bantry Bay terminal, Gulf is constructing a deep-water port and giant terminal at Heianza Island, Okinawa. When completed next spring, this will transfer crude from the 326's to feeder ships which will trans-port oil to Gulf customers and affiliates in Asia, including mainland Japan, Korea, Tai-wan, Philippines and Hong Kong. A contract recently was let for a similar storage depot and a refinery at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia. When Gulf originally placed its orders for the six 326's in 1967, the biggest tanker in the world was the 209,302 dwt Idemitsu Maru. Though it was technically possible to build bigger tankers, most oil companies and ship operators agreed this was near the maximum at which a tanker could operate safely and economically. Then Gulf placed the largest single shipbuilding order ever made, for six vessels each one and one half times the size of the Idemitsu Maru. Problems on a scale never before envisaged were overcome in storage, navigation, loading and unloading and safety facilities. With each ship measuring 1,135 feet in length, 175 feet in width and 105 feet depth, the 326's have a displacement six times that of the battleship New Jersey. Crewman have reported that waves in a storm where winds registered force 9 merely bounce off the hull like breakers off a cliff. Terminal facilities include a pumping sys-tem which can load or unload the tanks at the rate of 100,000 barrels per hour?almost 28 barrels per second?reducing turn-around time at each port to 36 hours or less. At an average speed of 15.7 knots, the vessels cover the 22,-000-mile round trip between the Middle East and Ireland in two months. The 326's have proven that tankers of this size navigating around the Cape of Good Hope can transport Middle East crude oil to Europe at half the cost of shipment through the Suez in the 50,000 tonners which are the maximum size the Suez can handle. Furness Withy Makes New Staff Appointments Following upon the sudden and untimely death of W. F. G. Harris, resident director of Furness Withy & Co., Ltd., N.Y., the follow-ing appointments have been made. P. V. O. Evans, at present the resident di-rector for Canada, has been appointed resident director for North America, thereby covering both Canada and the U.S.A. He also has been appointed chairman of the U.S.A. local board and president of the Administration Division and of the Stevedoring Division. T. A. Dromgool has been appointed vice-chairman of the U.S.A. local board, and D. L. Smith, a member of the U.S.A. local board and vice-president of the Administration Division. Mr. Dromgool will continue as president of the Agency and Operations Division for the U.S.A. wamm ??HHHj ALWAYS OUT FRONT in performance and service The Turecamo fleet of modern, powerful tugs is available around-the-clock for the docking and undocking of ships of all sizes. Over the years, Turecamo tugs have also established an enviable record in all phases of sound, harbor, coastwise and canal towing. Put this experience to work for you. DOCKING UNDOCKING harbor, sound, coastwise, canal and lake towing TURECAMO COASTAL & HARBOR TOWING CORP. 1752 SHORE PARKWAY. BROOKLYN, N.Y. 11214 TEL: ES 2-5200 MATTON . TURECAMO . MATTON , B. TURECAMO . TURECAMO TANKERS. TRANSPORTATION CO., * TRANSPORTATION CORP. SHIPYARD CO.. INC CONTRACTING CO.. INC. INC. INC. 28 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News