Consolidated Marine Management takes delivery of King Gregory.

Classed by Lloyd’s Register, the oil-and-chemical carrier has latest environmental and efficiency features and is the first of two fuel-efficient medium-range tankers from Hyundai MipoArticle.

Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) has delivered King Gregory, a 52,000-dwt tanker, to Consolidated Marine Management (CMM), the shipping branch of the Latsis Group.

King Gregory, HMD’s hull No. 2345 delivered earlier this month, is the first of two medium-range (MR), IMO II & III-class oil/chemical tankers contracted by Consolidated in August last year.

The ship features the latest equipment and technology to cope with new environmental requirements and energy-saving demands, according to Kostas Vlachos, Consolidated’s Chief Operating Officer.

“She is equipped with an electronic main engine, a larger diameter propeller, mewis duct and ship-performance monitoring -- transmitting data to the office, including but not limited to the monitoring of daily and specific fuel oil consumption and, hence, CO₂ emissions, the trim of the ship, and other key data – to help ensure the optimum performance,” Vlachos said.

The owners decided to install a ballast water treatment system supplied by Ocean Saver, the first system to be installed in an MR type tanker with deep-well cargo pumps. The ship also complies with all Exxon Mobil 2010 mandatory requirements and others that are strongly recommended, including those for STS operations (for the ship to ship transfer of oil at sea) such as vapour-emission control systems, certified cranes for personnel transportation and oil-water separators certified for 5ppm.

The owners say they have installed two of JRC’s modern electronic chart display and information systems, illustrating their determination to offer a highly competitive, environment friendly, safe and fully operational ship to the market.

It is estimated that the ship’s daily fuel consumption in the ballast condition with a speed 12.5 knots will not be more than 17.5 metric tons (MT), while the consumption in laden condition at a speed 13 knots will be less than 19.5 MT.

King Gregory has started a three-year time charter with Cargill, with both owners and charterers expected to realise considerable savings when compared with other ships in its class.

“Lloyd’s Register is proud to have worked with a client who is taking such a strong and clear lead in building and operating safe, efficient ships,” said Nikos Vaporis, Senior Specialist, Lloyd’s Register, Busan. “Consolidated have also been certified to the ISO 50001 energy management standard. A well-designed, well-built ship and an effective energy-management strategy is a bound to be a winning combination.”