AET takes delivery of Eagle Pilar shuttle tanker

Eagle Pilar has been successfully delivered to AET by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in South Korea. The vessel was safely constructed on time at the SHI yard amid the Covid-19 outbreak, with extra health and safety precautions taken by AET, the Eaglestar site teams and the SHI team to safeguard the ongoing construction and delivery.

This 153,180-dwt DP2 vessel has been built in collaboration with DNV GL and Eaglestar and is operating to the highest operational and environmental standards, including full compliance with IMO NOx Tier III and SOx emissions requirements.

Eagle Pilar is approximately 25 to 30% more fuel efficient than the dynamic positioning shuttle tankers built in the early part of the last decade demonstrating AET’s ambition to align with IMO’s 2030 carbon intensity aspirations. In addition, the vessel is installed with a ballast water treatment system, equipped with electric-driven cargo pumps for enhanced fuel efficiency, high-power thrusters and the latest position reference system fully capable of operating in harsh weather conditions.

AET also took delivery of two Suezmax shuttle tankers, purpose-built for long-term charter to Petrobras in 2020, which have featured in Tanker Shipping & Trade.

On this delivery, AET president and chief executive Captain Rajalingam Subramanian said “Today’s delivery of Eagle Pilar marks our first DP2 shuttle tanker to operate on long-term charter to Shell completing an agreement we reached two years ago. I am delighted we continue to deepen our partnership with Shell globally by continuously supporting their business ambition with our commitment and capabilities safely, reliably, and eco-efficiently operating the DP2 shuttle tanker in what can be extremely demanding and challenging environmental conditions in the Brazilian Basin.”

“Following the delivery of Eagle Pilar, AET has another three new DP2 shuttle tankers to be delivered in 2021 and 2022 to Shell. With this latest delivery, AET has also further strengthened its position as a top owner and operator of 11 of these highly specialised shuttle tankers globally and especially in Latin America where we already operate six in the Brazilian Basin.”

Eagle Pilar is expected to be delivered to Shell later this month and upon arrival in Brazil, will start operating in the Brazilian Basin joining AET’s six other dynamic positioning shuttle tankers (DPSTs) already operating there for Petrobras. This will bring AET’s DPST fleet in Brazil to seven, with six more DP2 shuttle tankers scheduled to be delivered in 2021-2022.

Globally, AET has 11 DPSTs (including Eagle Pilar), seven in the Brazilian Basin and four in the North and Norwegian Sea of which two are among the world’s first LNG dual-fuel DP2 shuttle tankers with VOC functionality.

Also, please note that planning is underway for the Tanker Shipping & Trade | Americas virtual conference. Sponsorship and speaking opportunities are available. Contact Tanker Shipping & Trade brand manager Paul Dowling at paul.dowling@rivieramm.com