JAPAN: WORLD'S LARGEST TANKER - 312-THOUSAND TON UNIVERSE IRELAND - ON SEA TRIALS.

Record ID: 384647

  • Title: JAPAN: WORLD'S LARGEST TANKER - 312-THOUSAND TON UNIVERSE IRELAND - ON SEA TRIALS.
  • Date: 29th July 1968
  • Summary: TANKER; TANKER EQUIPMENT; UNIVERSE IRELAND AT SEA. Initials PBS/V/BOB/PF Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th August 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAGAMI BAY, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVA2XIHKKECKZ5ZC6O84IGRCGVNR
  • Story Text: THE WORLD'S LARGEST TANKER, THE 321-THOUSAND TON UNIVERSE IRELAND, HAS BEEN UNDERGOING INITIAL SEA TRIALS IN SAGAMI BAY, IN SOUTH-EAST JAPAN.

    THE SHIP, BUILT FOR THE GULF OIL CORPORATION, IS ONE OF THREE HUGE TANKERS BEING BUILT IN JAPAN FOR THE COMPANY. IT WILL GO INTO SERVICE IN FOUR WEEKS.

    THE SHIP HAS TAKEN JUST UNDER TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE. IT IS POWERED BY A 37,400 HORSE POWER STEAM TURBINE ENGINE, GIVING IT A LADEN CRUISING SPEED OF NEARLY 15 KNOTS.

    THE VESSEL IS 346 METRES (1,134 FEET) LONG WITH A BEAM OF 53 METRES (173 FEET). IT HAS TWENTY-FOUR TANK COMPARTMENTS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 380-THOUSAND KILOLITRES (83,500,000 IMPERIAL GALLONS).

    THE THREE SISTER SHIPS ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED AT A TOTAL COST OF 20-MILLION U.S. DOLLARS. THE SECOND SHIP IS DUE FOR COMPLETION IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR, AND THE THIRD, THE KEEL OF WHICH WILL BE LAID IN OCTOBER, IS EXPECTED TO BE LAUNCHED IN JUNE NEXT YEAR.

    THE UNIVERSE IRELAND WILL OPERATE BETWEEN THE GULF OF KUWAIT AND THE IRISH REFINERY AT BANTRY, ON THE SOUTH-WEST COAST.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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