M/T Irene SL is a Greek-owned and -operated VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) or supertanker.[2] It was pirated presumably by Somali pirates on February 9, 2011 approximately 350 miles Southeast of Muscat, Oman in the Arabian Sea.[3]

History
NameMV Irene SL
OwnerGreece First Navigational Special Maritime Enterprise, Greece[1]
OperatorGreece Enesel S. A., Greece[1]
Port of registryGreecePiraeus, Greece
RouteFujairah to United States
BuilderHyundai Heavy Industries, South Korea
Launched19 July 2004
Completed2004
Identification
General characteristics
Tonnage
  • 161,175 GT
  • 319,247 DWT
Length330 m (1,082 ft 8 in)
Beam60 m (196 ft 10 in)
Draft22.5 m (73 ft 10 in)[2]
PropulsionDiesel engine, 29,348 kW
Speed15.7 knots (29.1 km/h; 18.1 mph)
Capacity353,328 m3
Crew25 (February 2011)[3]

Built in 2004, the Irene SL has a gross tonnage of 161,175 GT with a displacement of 319,247 DWT. It is 330 metres (1,080 ft) long, has a beam of 60 metres (200 ft) and a draft of 22.5 metres (74 ft).[2] The vessel has a single deck and is double-hulled. Her sister ship is the 2005-built MV Argenta.

When captured the ship was en route from Fujairah to the United States loaded with 2 million barrels of crude oil with an estimated value of $200 million.[4] The ship was captured one day after the pirates took control of another tanker, the MV Savina Caylin. With the use of larger mother ships since the end of 2010, pirates have extended their operational capabilities.

Three other VLCCs that have been ransomed by pirates are the Sirius Star, the Maran Centaurus, and the Samho Dream.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Vessel Irene SL (24786)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Auke Visser. "Auke Visser's International Super Tanker". Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Eunavfor (February 9, 2011). "MV Irene SL Pirated in the North Arabian Sea". Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  4. ^ Oceanuslive.org (February 9, 2011). "Greek-flagged MV IRENE SL reported hijacked by pirates in the North Arabian Sea". Retrieved February 9, 2011.
edit