Mr Caplan said at the launch, “ The introduction of Zemira represents a major commitment by Shell to the marine industry in Australia. She was built in response to the demands of our customers who are placing bigger orders, require guaranteed supply of high quality fuel oil, faster delivery, all coupled with state-of-the-art safety and environmental standards.” The specifications of the newly built vessel are certainly impressive: - 3800 deadweight tonnes (dwt),
- double hull and double bottom,
- self propelled,
- capacity to carry 3200MT of Heavy Fuel Oil and 600MT of Gas Oil,
- capacity for 150MT of bulk lubricants, and
- first dedicated bunkering vessel in Australia to be fully compliant with MARPOL Annex I*
“Zemira is the market leader in terms of both capacity - more than double the next largest bunker barge currently operating in Australia - and pumping rates. Her cargo spaces are fully heated - another industry first - which means that heavy fuel oils can be stored and delivered at optimal temperature and viscosity. It also allows her to be deployed as a coastal tanker to transfer fuel directly from our refinery in Geelong, to Melbourne which will vastly increase her operating range,” Russell continued. Mr Pakula MLC added, "It's a thrill to have this brand new, state of the art vessel operating in our waters. It will bring great benefits to the marine industry and provide further safeguards to our marine ecosystem. I congratulate Shell on bringing Zemira to Melbourne.”
Zemira commenced bunkering operations in the Port of Melbourne on 22 September 2007 following certification and trials. Media enquiries please contact: Shell Australia - Edwina Pribyl Ph: 03 8823 4070 Mb: 0417 007 344 * MARPOL Annex I requires all bunker vessels in excess of 600 deadweight tonnes (dwt) to be double hulled from 2008.
Notes to Editors: The Zemira is 74.5 metres in length, 3876 dwt, has five pairs of cargo tanks and two slop (lube) tanks totalling 4668 cubic metres served by three 500m3/hr cargo pumps. Her twin Anqing Daihatsu main engines deliver 11 knots, and she has accommodation for a permanent crew of six. The vessel is manned and operated by ASP Ship Management Pty Ltd, one of the leading ship operators and managers in Australia. Bunkering is the operation of loading fuel oil into marine vessels either while moored or at sea. What's in a name? Shell pioneered the design and construction of purpose-built ships designed to specifically carry bulk oil, back in the 1890’s. These were the first tankers, and their launch marked the birth of a two Shell traditions that continue today: - World leading design in the safe carriage of bulk liquids, and
- Naming vessels after seashells
The first Shell tanker was named Murex, after a family of marine molluscs. Zemira is named for the Zemira australis - a relatively rare mollusc of the Family Pseudolividae, with origins in the Cretaceous period some 100 million years ago. It is endemic to Australia and occurs from Fraser Island in Queensland to Tasmania. It grows to around 31mm in length.
| 
