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[rd77]

Hi all,

Just before the current economic turndown started in earnest, there was a lot of talk about converting single-hulled VLCC's from the late 80s and early 90s to VLOC's (Very Large Ore Carriers). Several dozens of ships were slated for conversion, I believe.
As the commodity boom went to bust, I think only a couple of conversions actually took place. Examples I know of are MARGOT N and RENATE N (former Maersk tankers) and there are a few more.

Can anyone list the converted ships for me please?

Many thanks!

Brgds.
Ralph

[Ian Thomas]

Hello Ralph, This is my list not a complete update but all ex VLCC's over 200,000 Dwt quite a few more out there I believe, hope this is a start for you.

Regards
Ian Thomas


ANANGEL SHAGANG - 1992 - IMO No.9004786

BW BUREYA - 1993 - IMO No. 9036454

BW DENALI - 1990 - IMO No. 9000998

BW KIBO - 1993 - IMO No. 9036442

BW VINSON - 1990 - IMO No. 8800286

DONG FANG OCEAN - 1986 - IMO No. 8414520

HEBEI INNOVATOR - 1986 - IMO No. 8420440

HEBEI SUCCESS - 1993 - IMO No. 9032642

HEBEI WINNER - 1993 - IMO No. 9042685

JANICE N - 1995 - IMO No. 9084190

MARGOT N - 1989 - IMO No. 8707226

PHYLLIS N - 1990 - IMO No. 8800274

REBEKKA N - 1990 - IMO No. 8618190

RENATE N -  1992 - IMO No. 9006851

SINOCARRIER - 1992 - IMO No. 9012252

WARRIOR - 1990 - IMO No. 8808056

[Andreas Schlatterer]

Please check the pics - I just put a pic from them Laiwu Steel Harmonius in
She was before sailing as T.S. Asclepius and Eastern Jewel

Best regards
Capesize

[Phil English]

Ralph,

There are now around 125 single-hull tankers either already converted, or in the process of conversion to dry. Far too many to list here I'm afraid.

Phil

[rd77]

Really!? I wasn't expecting that. I guess those 125 ships cover all sizes, not only former VLCC's, right?

Brgds.
Ralph

[Magogman]

I have not double checked but I believe the infamous Exxon Valdez was converted to an ore carrier last year.  Her name before the conversion was the Mediterranean (?)

[Richard Matterson]

She is now Dong Fang Ocean

[Phil English]

Hi Ralph,

Yes, to be fair the majority of conversions have been smaller than VLCC size, so my comment was a bit misleading. The following vessels (ex VLCC) are known to be in service as ore carriers, or are under conversion. There will be more. Vale purchased 3 ships from Vela (yes, VELA sold to VALE :-) earlier this year and they are already renamed but anchored off Shekou awaiting their turn for conversion.

X03_IMO_NUMBER   Z01_CURRENT_NAME   Z02_EXNAME   A12_YEAR_BUILT   A04_DWT_tonnes
8414520   Dong Fang Ocean   Mediterranean   1986   214860
8420440   Hebei Innovator   Galaxy   1986   236697
9002673   General   Hebei General   1992   238818
9032642   Hebei Success   Tataki   1993   239999
9000895   K Cosmos   Titan Taurus   1992   240853
8808056   Warrior   Hebei Warrior   1990   243850
8618190   Rebekka N   Azuma Enterprise   1990   255346
9003615   Shourong   Tohzan   1992   255396
8812667   Anangel Zhongte   Astro Lupus   1989   257589
8808068   Laiwu Steel Harmonious   Eastern Jewel   1989   258049
9042685   Hebei Winner   Okinoshima   1993   258079
9033335   L Elephant   Kanayama   1992   258094
9052343   MG Shipping   Takayama   1993   259991
9038672   Sinotrader   Shinyo Guardian   1993   259993
9082312   Handan Steel   Golden Jewel   1994   259999
9043720   Pacific Ruby   Atlantic Ruby   1993   260988
8908284   Stellar Fair   Titan Pisces   1990   261167
9012252   Sinocarrier   Bright Artemis   1992   261284
9007805   Stellar Cosmo   Suzuka   1992   261310
9038725   Stellar Daisy   Sunrise   1993   264165
9041198   Sinoglory   Ardeshir H. Bhiwandiwalla   1992   264301
9084190   Janice N   Diamond Hope   1995   264340
9082350   Anangel Haili   Astro Luna   1995   264340
9008691   Wugang Asia   Asian Jewel   1992   264484
8711007   MC Garnet   Grand Atlantic   1990   275269
9002685   Wugang Orient   Orient Jewel   1991   275628
9122590   Navix Astral      1996   275644
8618841   F Elephant   World Prospect   1989   275984
8707226   Margot N   Eastern Fortune   1989   277020
9036454   BW Bureya   BW Bandeira   1993   279986
9036442   BW Kibo   Sala   1993   279989
9044229   Stellar Eagle   Sylt   1993   279995
9006734   Prem Putli   Musashi Spirit   1993   280654
9085352   Wugang Atlantic   Atlantic Jewel   1995   281226
8715651   Hebei Ambition   Napa   1990   285640
8902424   Berge Elbrus   BW Elbrus   1991   285739
8800274   Phyllis N   Grand Explorer   1990   285768
9004786   Anangel Shagang   Astro Leon   1992   285771
9006851   Renate N   New Frontier   1992   285933
9000998   BW Denali   BW Noto   1992   286006
9002738   Shagang Giant   Starlight Jewel   1993   306902

[rd77]

Thanks for that list Phil!

I was looking around a bit on the Vela website (http://www.vela.ae) and was surprised to find how many of their tankers from the mid-90s are still single hulled. Even their Odense-built trio (ALPHARD STAR and sisters) are single hulled, despite being sisters of the double-hulled ELEO MAERSK, the first double-hulled VLCC built.

Interesting stuff! I read somewhere that up to 82 single-hulled VLCC will need to be retired by 2010. Can't turn 'em all into VLOC's, storage hulks or FPSO's I guess, so we'll see a fair few end up on the scrapping beaches I reckon. So far in 2009, the counter stands around 10 or so scrapped VLCC's.

Brgds.
Ralph

[rd77]

Phil,

If it's not too much trouble for you, could you tell me which 3 VLCC's Vela sold to Vale? Been trying to find out on the Net, but no luck so far.

Thanks!
Ralph

[Phil English]

Hi Ralph,

It's no trouble. Vela sold the CARINA STAR and HYDRA STAR to Vale, now renamed ORE CAUE and ORE GORO respectively. The other vessel is the ORE FABRICA which I mistakenly thought was ex Vela, but I've just double checked and she's the former FRONT DUCHESS of Frontline.

Cheers
Phil

[Mats]

I found a picture of the recently converted "Anangel Haili" (ex the VLCC "Astro Luna") in the following publication from Cosco Shipyard, see page 10:

http://www.cosco-shipyard.com/mov/zhongyuan/174.pdf

Many of the VLCC - VLOC conversions have been carried out by the newly developed Yiu Lian Dockyards. Pictures of the conversions can be found at THIS page.

[rd77]

just saw today in Paul Mason's market report that Vela has sold a further three single-hulled VLCC's to Vale for conversion into VLOC's, sales price USD20 million each:

AL BALI STAR
LIBRA STAR
PHOENIX STAR

Brgds.
Ralph

[Mats]

It seems Hydra Star and Carina Star have arrived at Yiu Lian Dockyards for conversion now:

http://en.yiulian.com/newEbiz1/EbizPortalFG/portal/html/InfoContent.html?InfoPublish_InfoID=c373e9246d8ac07c8f6ea8ad92aa23a0

[Mats]

Berge Bulk have posted two great pictures of their VLOC "Berge Vinson" (ex VLCC "Ness" ex "Argo Hebe") HERE.

As a Norwegian, I love that they have taken the "Berge" prefix back! Their newest VLOC is "Berge Lyngor", named after the small township of Lyngør in southern Norway.

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