Desgagnés Christens, Launches Polar Class Tanker Duo

Canadian shipping company Desgagnés held a double christening and inauguration ceremony for its new polar class tankers on June 20.

The ceremony for the dual fuel/LNG vessels Paul A. Desgagnés and Rossi A. Desgagnés was held at the Port of Quebec. Featuring almost 15,000 dwt and tanks with a capacity of more than 17,000 m³, the ships were built at the Besiktas shipyard in Turkey.

With the additions, Desgagnés completed its more than CAD 200 million investment plan launched in 2015 for the construction and commissioning of four new vessels.

Each vessel represents an investment of CAD 50 million, of which close to CAD 9 million for each ship was solely for the purpose of adding a dual fuel/LNG engine.

“The addition of the Paul A. Desgagnés and the Rossi A. Desgagnés demonstrates Desgagnés’ vision and leadership in sustainable development in a tangible way, as well as its commitment to its customers to offer a first-class marine petroleum transportation service that represents quality, safety and respects the environment,” Louis-Marie Beaulieu, President and Chief Executive Officer, said.

Previous ships in the series, the Damia Desgagnés, the world’s first dual fuel asphalt plant, and the Mia Desgagnés, the world’s first dual fuel polar-class petroleum-chemical tanker and sister ship to the two inaugurated today, were christened at the Port of Montreal in 2017 and 2018.