SS Belanak was the fifth ship of the seven B-class oil tankers. She was previously known as Gouldia.[1] She is named after belanak, a species of fish found in Brunei and Malaysia.

History
United Kingdom
NameSS Gouldia
OwnerGaz de France
Port of registryLondon, UK
Ordered1972
BuilderCNIM-La Syne, France
Launched9 February 1974
In service1975
Out of service1986
HomeportLondon
FateSold to Brunei in December 1986.
Brunei
NameSS Belanak
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 type
  • B-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

edit

B-class oil tankers 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 carry 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 were certified with the 'Green Passport' for the safe carriage of all hazardous materials on board. All B-class oil tankers were taken out of service in 2011.[3] They are all steam powered.[4]

Construction and career

edit

SS Gadinia was ordered in 1972 and completed in 1975.[5] The vessel entered service in 1975 and was taken out of service to be sold in 1986. In 1986, Brunei Shell acquired Gouldia and renamed her Belanak. Throughout her career she routinely traveled between Brunei and Japan carrying oil.

On 28 April 2018, Belanak was taken out of service to be scrapped in Shanghai, China after 45 years of service.[6] Her and her sister SS Bebatik were the last two in service.[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Belanak | Helderline.com". www.helderline.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  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. ^ "Belanak". marinetraffic.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  6. ^ "Cargo Vessel SS Bebatik Completes Its Service | Brunei's No.1 News Website". brudirect.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  7. ^ gp (2019-03-08). "BGC marks 21 years of delivering Brunei LNG » Borneo Bulletin Online". Borneo Bulletin Online. Retrieved 2020-08-03.