World's largest DP shuttle tanker built by China delivered

China National Offshore Oil Corporation announced on Friday that the world's largest DP shuttle tanker, NS Pioneer, independently designed and built in China, was officially delivered in Dalian.

The upgrade and application of related equipment technologies have achieved breakthroughs in China's shipping and shipbuilding industries. The tanker is on course to Brazil after delivery to carry out oil transportation operations and provide support for CNOOC's deep-sea oil transportation in international waters, it said.

With completely independent intellectual property rights, the NS Pioneer is an oil tanker designed for the Chinese share of the world's largest deep-water oil and gas fields, Buzios and Mero, in Brazil.

The tanker has a carrying capacity of 155,000 tons, a total length of 279 meters, a width of 48 meters, and a depth of 23.7 meters. It adopts the industry-leading DP power positioning technology, which has stable position control functions and higher oil transportation safety.

The average operating water depth of Brazil's ultra-deep-water oil fields is about 2,000 meters. The climate in the area is unstable with high winds and waves and harsh environmental conditions, which requires extremely high-power positioning capabilities for oil tankers engaged in oil transportation operations.

CNOOC will become the first Chinese company to operate DP oil tankers in both international and domestic waters, while the company will continue increasing reserves and boosting production, providing stronger guarantees for national energy security and the construction of a maritime power, it said.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn