“Several owners are considering turning their crude oil tankers into heavy lift vessels,” says Richard Simpson, DNV’s head of Ships in Operations in Region Greater China. “The reason for this is the increased demand for special ships that can carry rigs and large offshore constructions. This will also provide a new life for some of the tanker fleet which would otherwise have to be phased out due to international double-hull requirements.”

According to media reports, the John Fredriksen-owned shipping company Frontline has decided to convert up to six of the company’s single-hull Suezmax crude oil tankers into heavy lift ships.

In the first round, the Front Traveller and Front Target, both 152,000-tonne ships, will be put into this new niche market. Their conversions were awarded to the Cosco Group and will be completed in November. An option with the yard that has been given the assignment allows Frontline to send a further four ships there to be modified. If they do so, they can be delivered next year.

According to Simpson, the volume of conversion work in China is increasing.
“In addition to the Frontline vessels, the Odfjell Group is converting five single hull tankers into double hull tankers at the Cosco Nantong yard in Shanghai. Work has already started on the first two. Jo Tankers has also thrown itself into the conversion market and plans to convert two of its single hull tankers. Work will commence in June at the Cosco Nantong yard. The Norway-based owner has an option to convert a further four vessels.”

DNV is also doing conversion work for Hong Kong-based owners and a joint venture between Russian owners for dual class.