KUALA LUMPUR: MISC Bhd's subsidiary AET has taken delivery of Eagle Campos, the first of three Suezmax Dynamic Positioning (DP2) Shuttle Tankers purpose built for long-term charter to Brazil Shipping I Ltd, a subsidiary of Shell.

AET is a global owner and operator of maritime transportation assets and specialised services, committed to moving energy in a responsible, sustainable and eco-efficient way.

AET said it had struck a deal with Shell in December 2019 to operate these three Suezmax DP2 shuttle tankers in the international and Brazilian Basin on a long-term charter with Eagle Campos being the first in this series. 

"The vessel was delivered to AET on January 5, 2022 and will start its operations in Brazil joining Eagle Pilar which AET already operates there for Shell," it said.

AET said Eagle Campos' two sister vessels were currently under construction at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Ulsan, South Korea and due to be delivered later this year. 

"AET and Eaglestar site teams have been working closely together with the HHI team to ensure all health and safety precautions were in place to safeguard the construction and delivery of the vessels during the ongoing pandemic," it said. 

Dynamic Positioning Shuttle Tankers (DPST) global director Amit Pal said the delivery of Eagle Campos was another milestone in the company's growing partnership with Shell globally including in Brazil. 

Pal said the delivery fortified AET's position as a leading owner and operator of 12 of these highly specialised dynamic positioning (DP) shuttle tankers globally with eight vessels currently operating in the Brazilian Basin (including Eagle Campos). 

"Witnessing the fruition of our agreement with Shell signifies the commitment from both parties to high-quality, safe and responsible operations," he said. 

In collaboration with HHI, DNV and Eaglestar, this 153,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) DP2 vessel has been built to Shell's technical requirements for DP2 shuttle tankers in Brazil and will operate to the highest operational and environmental standards. 

Eagle Campos is classed with DNV and equipped with electrical-driven Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) cargo pumps and high-power thrusters for enhanced fuel efficiency and fully capable of operating in weather conditions expected for their class. 

AET has another five DP2 shuttle tankers under construction to be delivered in 2022, which will bring our global DPST fleet to 17, with 13 operating offshore Brazil.