SS Bebatik was the lead ship of the seven B-class LNG tankers. She was also known previously as Gadinia.[1] She is named after the bebatik, a species of fish found in Brunei and Malaysia.

History
United Kingdom
NameSS Gadinia
OwnerGaz de France
Port of registryLondon, UK
Ordered1972
BuilderCNIM-La Syne, France
Launched8 October 1971
In service1973
Out of service1986
HomeportLondon
FateSold to Brunei in December 1986.
Brunei
NameSS Bebatik
Owner
  • Brunei Shell Tankers (1986)
  • Brunei Liquified Natural Gas (2015)
OperatorSTASCo
Port of registryMuara, Brunei
Acquired1986
In service1986
Out of service28 April 2018
HomeportBrunei
Identification
FateScrapped, in 2018
General characteristics
Class and typeB-class oil tankers (Brunei) G-class oil tankers (France)
Displacement51,579 tons
Length260 m (853 ft 0 in)
Beam35 m (114 ft 10 in)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 x lifeboats

Development

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B-class LNG carriers were built by CNIM-La Syne, France in 1972 to 1975. They served Gaz de France for around 14 years, the B-Class vessels were acquired and delivered to BST in December 1986. Previously referred to as the G-class vessels chartered under Shell Tankers United Kingdom (STUK). They continued to provide reliable service to the company and its client especially BLNG. Four out of the seven BST vessels are manned by a fully Bruneian crew with the exception of senior management; a feat yet to be achieved but not impossible.[2]

All B-class vessels have an average cargo capacity of 75,000 m3 (470,000 bbl) and are certified with the 'Green Passport' for the safe carriage of all hazardous materials on board. All B-class LNG tankers were decommissioned in 2011.[3] They are all steam powered.[4]

Construction and career

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SS Gadinia was ordered in 1972 and completed in the same year.[5] The vessel entered service in 1972 and was taken out of service to be sold in 1986. In 1986, Brunei Shell acquired Gadinia and renamed her Bebatik. Throughout her career she routinely traveled between Brunei and Japan carrying LNG.

On 28 April 2018, she was taken out of service and scrapped in Shanghai, China after 45 years of service.[6] She was among the last two in service.[7]

An art of her was drawn on one of the walls in the Billionth Barrel Monument.

References

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  1. ^ "Gadinia (2) | Helderline.com". www.helderline.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  2. ^ "The Magnificient 7, [sic] BST's Crowning Glories" (PDF). BSP Brunei. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  3. ^ "The Shell Fleet" (PDF). Cnooks. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Company History – Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd". Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  5. ^ "Bebatik". marinetraffic.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  6. ^ "Cargo Vessel SS Bebatik Completes Its Service | Brunei's No.1 News Website". brudirect.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  7. ^ gp (2019-03-08). "BGC marks 21 years of delivering Brunei LNG » Borneo Bulletin Online". Borneo Bulletin Online. Retrieved 2020-08-03.