Ship-to-Ship Transfers
Fifty square miles of sheltered, deep water designated anchorage, an average of a 24 metre draft and a 30 year impeccable safety record, makes Scapa Flow one of the principle locations in Europe for Ship to Ship Operations of the transfer of crude and fuel oils.
The first Ship-to-Ship transfer of North Sea crude oil in Scapa Flow took place in August 1980; the Matco Thames transferred its cargo into the Mobil Magnolia. It required two transfers from the Matco Thames to load the Mobil Magnolia that had a deadweight of 280,237 tonnes, effectively a two million barrel tanker.
Since 1980, 0ver 180 ship to ship transfers have been conducted in Scapa Flow involving 250 vessels, and incorporating the Worlds first commercial transfer of LNG (liquid Natural gas).transferring 132,000m³ of LNG. This occurred in 2007 between the vessels Excalibur and Excelsior
The overall number of barrels of crude oil transferred in the first 6 months of 2009 alone amounts to just over 14 million barrels and a combination of the current market conditions, ideal logistical support in terms of pilots and towage plus the vast levels of experience and expertise of Marine Services crews makes Scapa Flow the ideal location for such operations.
Pilotage and pilot launch services and Towage Services are provided for all operations in Scapa Flow by the new Marine Services Division.
Bunkering operations are also carried out in Scapa Flow with coastal tankers arriving with bunkers for vessels at anchor.
All vessels arriving at a Scapa Flow Pilot for Ship-to-Ship transfer operations must arrive with their propeller submerged and a trim no greater than 4.0 meters by the stern. A trim must be maintained to allow the vessel to be manoeuvred without difficulty during their stay.
All Transfer operations will comply with the current OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) STS Transfer Guide and the approved company STS procedures. Only contractors approved by the Orkney Islands Council marine Services will be permitted to supervise any Ship-to-Ship transfer operations in Scapa Flow.
Due to the slow exchange of water in Scapa Flow no ballast water from Ship-to-Ship transfer operations is permitted to be discharged into Scapa Flow. Vessels requiring to de-ballast will be required to leave Scapa Flow to carryout de-ballasting prior to returning to complete the Ship-to-Ship transfer operation.
The current economic downturn has witnessed the arrival of laden VLCC's for long term storage. This is welcomed in Scapa Flow, however as the regulator of the Harbour Authority, the Harbourmaster requires all VLCC's to be fully operational and anchor watch to be maintained.
In 2009 we have hosted for the first time VLCC's of similair deadweight ( circa 300,000 DWT) transferring crude oil on a 1:1 basis. Vessels such as the Bunga Kasturi Dua, Samco America, BW Luna and Hero I are all examples of vessels who have conducted crude oil transfers of over 2 million barrels in Scapa Flow in 2009.