19/08/2024
The ULCC Bellamya, built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, was completed on December 31, 1976. It was one of the largest ships ever constructed, part of the Batillus class of supertankers, and was operated by the French branch of Shell Oil.
Bellamya had a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 553,662, a gross tonnage (GT) of 275,276, and an overall length of 414.22 meters. The ship's beam measured 63.01 meters, with a draft of 28.50 meters. It was powered by four Stal-Laval steam turbines, which produced a total output of 64,800 horsepower, enabling the vessel to reach a speed of 16.7 knots. The ship's fuel consumption was approximately 330 tons of heavy oil per day, allowing for an endurance of about 42 days.
The ship's construction began in January 1975, and despite the oil market crisis following the Yom Kippur War, Shell decided to proceed with the project. Bellamya entered service in 1976 and operated until 1984. Due to its immense size, it faced limitations in accessing various ports and canals, which, along with the oil market conditions, led to its early retirement.
Bellamya was laid up in Vestnes, Norway, in January 1984, and eventually sold for scrap. It was dismantled at Hyundai's shipbreaking yard in Ulsan, South Korea, in January 1986.