Southampton (23 April 2007) -- The largest ever bunker tanker to be based in UK waters was named with a champagne ceremony at the Port of Southampton today. The newly constructed 6,200 tonne British-registered Whitonia is the latest addition to the fleet of John H Whitaker (Tankers) Ltd., and was officially named by Mrs Hee Jung Wescoat, wife of Andy Wescoat, Director of ExxonMobil Global Marine Fuels.

ExxonMobil Marine Fuels supply high quality fuel oil bunkers from the Fawley refinery to the many shipping lines calling along the South Coast, including the growing number of cruise ships calling at Southampton. The double-hulled Whitonia has been contracted to serve under a new 10-year agreement. It is set to continue ExxonMobil’s long record of expert ship refuelling within port, a tradition of service that dates back to the 1920s.

The fifth Whitonia to bear the name in Whitakers’ 127-year history, the vessel is equipped with state of the art technology, including 360° azimuth thrusters for extra manoeuvrability and independent safety sensors in every cargo compartment.

Vessel data: MT Whitonia - new double-hull tanker

Port of registry: Douglas
Length: 102 m
Beam: 18 m
Draught laden: 6.3 m
Cargo capacity: 6,214 tonnes in five pairs of tanks
Cargo pumps: Bornemann screw type – giving maximum fuel oil pumping rate of up to 1,000 tonnes per hour
Service speed: 10 knots
Propulsion: twin Yanmar main engines driving HRP 360° azimuth thrusters – 450 KW tunnel bow thruster
Crew: 10
Built: Dubai Dry Dock 2007
Entry into service: Southampton, April 2007