New Zealand’s Coastal Oil Logistics Ltd (COLL) is to charter in two new MR product tankers from ASP Ship Management to replace two tankers that have been in long-term service in the coastal trade.
The current tankers Kakariki (46,700 dwt, built 1999) and Torea (37,100 dwt, built 2004) are both owned by Australia’s Silver Fern Shipping, and have been on charter to COLL since being delivered from their respective shipyards.
The new vessels will be built in South Korea. Kakariki will be replaced by an unnamed 50,000-dwt products/bitumen tanker, will begin service in June 2017. Torea‘s replacement will arrive in February next year, according to press reports in New Zealand.
COLL’s chief executive Jon Kelly said the new ships would be much more fuel-efficient than the older vessels they will replace, which will also help reduce emissions.
