This vessel, a single hull, double bottom tanker, hull No. WRS-115, was built in the Woo Ri Ship Building Co. Ltd, Chungmu, South Korea. The dates of keel-laying, launching and delivery are not known, but all were in 1993. The tanker was taken into service by the Korean owners Jeil Enterprise Co. Ltd., Pusan under the name "JEIL No. 16" and the vessel was registered under the Korean flag. IMO No: 8874134, call sign: DASJ7.
The "JEIL No. 16" was bought by Reederei ABC Maritime Co. Ltd., Valletta, Malta in 1998 and the technical management was allocated to ABC Maritime AG, Nyon. The vessel was taken-over in Pusan on 25.06.1998 and renamed "ELISA". She was registered under the flag of Malta with her home port being Valletta. Official No: 6064, call sign: 9HWR5.
The vessel’s main particulars are GRT/NRT: 3233 / 1624, the DWT is 5071 metric tons on a summer draught of 6.49 m. The 10 cargo tanks have a total capacity of 5441 m3. The tanks are epoxy coated and fitted with mild steel steam heating coils.
The main engine is a 8-cylinder, reversible Ssang Yong MAN-B&W Diesel, type: 8S26MC, developing 3968 BHP at 250 RPM, directly coupled to a solid propeller. Three diesel generators supply the electrical power (A.C. 3-phase, 450/220V, 60Hz).
The "ELISA" left Pusan on 04.07.1998, bound for Angola via Singapore and Cape Town to take up commercial operations as a coastal tanker, distributing oil products along the coast of Angola with occasional voyages along the coast of West Africa.
On 04.05.2001 the vessel was sold to Ngol Bengo Shipping Ltd., Valletta (Sonaship, Luanda). The vessel was renamed "NGOL BENGO", but remained under the Maltese flag (same official number and call sign). The technical management also remained with ABC Maritime AG, Nyon.
The "NGOL BENGO" is named after the River Bengo in Angola.
30.03.2009: The Management was allocated at Luanda to Sociedad Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (SONANGOL), Luanda. (Technical Management: V Ships Ltd., Monte Carlo, Monaco). Not renamed.