ESHIPS takes delivery of last Solar-series tanker for Shell charter

The six Solar-prefixed 2020- and 2021-built 25,000-dwt chemical and product tankers were ordered against a US$166M charter between Shell International Trading and Shipping and ESHIPS’ parent company Tristar Group. In 2016, Tristar purchased Emirates Ship Investment Company (ESHIPS) for a reported US$90M from Egon Oldendorff GmbH & Co KG.

The latest Solar tanker was delivered in January 2021. Solar Ailene is named after assistant financial planning analyst Ailene Bravo who is based at the head office.

Solar Sheridan is named after Sheridan Dela Rosa, a senior operations supervisor. Both women won a raffle to have their names on two of the six new vessels ordered from the shipyard in 2018. The four other vessels have been delivered, namely Solar Sharna, Solar Nesrin, Solar Suzanne and Solar Skyler.

Today, ESHIPS operates 31 tankers. As well as the six Solar tankers, there are six Silver-prefixed MR2 product tankers ordered in 2013 for US$200M from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard delivered from 2016 onward. These were built to the latest specifications with an improved hull form design, additional fuel savings equipment such as propeller boss cap fins, new profile technology propellers and trim optimisation systems.

Parent company Tristar marked a landmark occasion in January 2021, delivering the first LNG cargo to Croatia’s newly commissioned floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) LNG Croatia.

The LNG cargo transfer from LNG carrier Tristar Ruby to the FSRU was completed on 3 January. Tristar Ruby loaded the cargo at the Cove Point LNG terminal in Lusby, Maryland, according to Bloomberg.