WESTAF
This crude oil carrier was built in Japan by Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Ariake Works, Nagasu, under hull No. 4823 for Cosmo Oil Company of Japan. The keel was laid on 27/06/1986 (other sources say 14/03/1986) and she was launched as "COSMO JUPITER" on 25/09/1986. The delivery to her registered owners Shinwa Kaiun K.K. (Shinwa Kaiun Kaisha Ltd.), Tokyo was on 8/12/1986 and at first she sailed under Japanese flag with her home port being Tokyo (IMO No. 8519253, Official No. 129815, Call sign: JBSN, GRT: 136'681, NRT: 68638, DWT: 238770).
On her maiden voyage she suffered some minor damage on 06/01/1987 when she was struck by a missile, fired from a gunboat, when she was about 12 nautical miles off Hamriyah Terminal in a position 25°46' N, 55°29' E during a voyage from Mina al Fahal to Japan. The gunboat was thought to be Iranian, but this was denied by the Iranian authorities.
July 1997: Sold to Parau Shipping Inc. (Management: Shinwa Marine Corp., Tokyo), Panama and reflagged under Panama (official No. 25109-97, call sign: 3FQK7, GT: 135525, NT: 78996, DWT: 248965). Not renamed.
2001: Transferred to Pharos Steamship (Management: Shinwa Marine Corp., Tokyo), Panama. Not renamed.
October 2001: Purchased by Enrex Enterprises Ltd. (Management: Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd., Seoul), Valletta. Renamed "VL COSMOS" on the 8/02/2002 and registered under Malta flag, home port Valletta (official No. 7609, call sign: 9HFB7).
April 2002: Transferred back to Panama flag (official No. 30391-PEXTF, call sign: 3FQK7). Not renamed.
In July 2004 the tanker was purchased by the Chinese HOSCO-Group (the former Hebei Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd), registered owner, Hebei Explorer Shipping Co. Ltd., Hong Kong and the management was allocated to Wallem Shipmanagement Ltd., Hong Kong. She was taken over and renamed on 21/02/2005 to "HEBEI EXPLORER" (official No. HK-1470, call sign: VRAT2).
In March 2006 the vessel was sold again to Cressy International SA (Management: Avin International SA, Athina), Panama and registered back under Panama flag as the "NAVARINO" (official No. 31869-06, call sign: 3EEY4). During this time the vessel was on a regular service carrying crude oil from Egypt to a refinery in Piraeus.
The "NAVARINO" was purchased on 21st November 2007 by Chalmers Shipping Inc., Panama and the technical management was allocated to ABCmaritime, Nyon. The vessel was anchored at Salamina Island (near Piraeus) for tank cleaning, a job which took about 3 months. In February 2008 she was shifted to the shipyard in Scaramanga for dry docking and repairs. In addition, various conversion work had to be carried out on this crude oil tanker to adapt to her future role as a FSU, Floating Storage Unit for fuel oil, gas oil and gasoline. This major overhaul was completed at begin of September 2008. During the repair period, in July 2008 her name was changed to "WESTAF", but the vessel continued to fly the Panama flag.
The tanker can carry 248'965 metric tonnes (summer DWT) on a draft of 19.83 m and her lightweight (the ship's own weight) is 31'219 metric tonnes. Propulsion is by one slow speed 7-cylinder crosshead diesel engine, made by Hitachi-B&W, type: 7S80MCE, directly coupled to a fixed pitch propeller. The engine develops 16'923 kW (23''015 BHP) and runs at a very low speed of 77 RPM, which gives an improved propeller efficiency (bore 800 mm, stroke 3056 mm). Major modification works were made to the cargo pipe systems, to the ship's electrical power generating plant, by adding 2 additional diesel generators (to minimise the use of the steam generator) and the adaptation for a permanent "Tri-Cat" (Tri-Catenary) mooring system in about 65 m of water depth, see also www.mooringsystemsltd.com
After the completion of the repair work the "WESTAF" sailed to Nigeria and was positioned off the coast of the capital Lagos and permanently anchored to take up operation as a FSU for the Nigerian MRS-Group, a major trading company for oil products, see also www.swisstanker.com
On 10.01.2011 the technical management of the vessel was handed-over from ABCmaritime to Unibros, a company belonging to the owner's group of companies. Changed flag to Liberia. Call Sign: A8YF3.
In June 2013 sold to Gunehr Shipping Ltd., Basseterre and renamed "ESTA" (Call sign: V4TD2, St Kitts Nevis flag) and departed Lagos via Port Louis, Mauritius to Pakistan for demolition by unknown shipreakers.