January 9, 1982 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

First Of Four Exxon Tankers Delivered By China Shipbuilding

The Esso Mexico, the first of four 89,000-dwt f u e l - e f f i c i e nt t a n k e r s being built for Esso Tankers, Inc., Florham Park, N.J., at the Kaoshiung shipyard of China Shipbuilding Corporation, Taiwan, was delivered recently.

The tanker was designed primarily to carry crude oil from Caribbean ports to Exxon's U.S.

r e f i n e r i e s . The vessel's cargo tanks, equipped with heating coils and integrated piping, have the capability of transporting up to four grades of fuel oil.

The 805.1-foot long Esso Mexico incorporates the latest technology to assure high operating efficiency and maximum safety.

Recently completed trials showed a 30 percent total fuel consumption improvement over conven- tional tankers of similar size and speed.

Major fuel efficiency features include a direct drive, long-stroke slow-speed B&W / Hitachi 6L90 GFCA diesel engine. The engine is designed to operate on heavyfuel oil, significantly reducing fuel consumption. The engine produces 17,100 hp and a service speed of 15 knots.

Also incorporated is a Mitsui integrated duct, located forward of the propeller, which uniformly directs flow to the propeller increasing p r o p u l s i o n efficiency.

Exxon has retrofitted the duct on its existing tankers with good results.

Other efficiency features are self-polishing, antifouling paint from International Paint Company; an improved a u x i l i a ry steam turbogenerator system from Aalborg that uses exhaust heat from the main engine to help furnish electrical power; and a cargo and ballast water pumping system which uses superheated, steam-driven, t h r e e - s t a g e turbines.

The four tankers have safety and pollution prevention systems that meet or exceed the current IMO standards, including a fully segregated ballast system, a Butterworth crude oil washing system, and an Air-Filco inert gas system.

The vessels are equipped with an emergency hydraulic rudder system that is immediately activated in the event of main steering gear failure. In addition, the vessels have sophisticated navigation and communications equipment including a Norcontrol collision avoidance system, Decca radars, a Marisat/Japan Radio Corp. automatic satellite communications system, Magnavox satellite navigation system, radios by ITT, and Loran C by Northstar. The four ships are built to ABS classification.

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