MV Maersk Rapier
MV Maersk Rapier is a commercial product tanker that was owned by the A.P. Moller–Maersk Group and chartered to the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MoD).[1] The vessel served as the primary strategic link for the collection and transportation of purchased fuel from oil refineries to British and NATO fuel depots.
 MV Maersk Rapier | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Maersk Rapier |
| Owner | A.P. Moller–Maersk Group |
| Port of registry | London |
| Builder | Guangzhou Shipyard International, China |
| Launched | 2000 |
| Decommissioned | June 2017 |
| In service | 2003 (under MOD charter) |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sold, became Dolcha Bay |
| Status | Retired |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Commercial Tanker |
| Tonnage | 35,000 DWT |
| Length | 171.2m |
| Beam | 27.42m |
| Speed | 15.5kts |
MoD charter
Maersk Rapier is tasked with supplying fuel to the United Kingdoms various naval establishments at home and overseas. The vessel operates principally in the British, Atlantic and Mediterranean regions and provides aviation fuel to various RAF stations, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, the airbridge connection at Ascension Island and Mount Pleasant in the Falklands.[1] The MoD sub-charters the vessel (known as 3rd party trading) to commercial companies during rare periods where she is not in use for defence purposes.[1][2]
The operations at the Falklands and Ascension required the use of specialist floating hoses. At the Falklands the fuel was discharged through an SBM at Mare Harbour. The vessel also regularly served the NATO fueling station at Loch Striven and occasionally the fuel jetties at Garelochhead, Gosport and Plymouth. The vessel primarily carried a combination of Aviation Fuel for the Royal Air Force and high grade Diesel for the Royal Navy.
The Maersk Rapier was under permanent charter with the MoD since 2003.[2] The commercial contract to carry fuel for the MoD has also been extended to other Maersk vessels in the past. From 1982 to 2003 the vessels Maersk Ascension and Maersk Gannet were also under permanent charter to the MoD.
As of June 2017, the vessel has been sold to an unnamed party for $6.5m.[3]
She was renamed Dolcha Bay.[4]
References
- Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. p. 50. ISBN 978-1904459552.
- Hired Tankers Hansard Written Answers - House of Commons, publications.parliament.uk, 27 October 2003
- "Maersk Tankers Linked to Sale of Two MR1 Oldies". Offshore Energy. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- "DOLICHA BAY (Tanker) Registered in United Kingdom - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 0, MMSI 233816000, Call Sign MZFR9". www.marinetraffic.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.