During the second half of 2008 Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) added the 47,000dwt product tanker MAERSK MICHIGAN to its U.S. flag vessel fleet. The 182-meter double hull medium-range, 12 knots tanker will provide U.S. government customers, such as their Defense Energy Support Center, with expanded petroleum transport capacity around the world.
At the time, Steve Carmel, MLL’s Senior Vice President of Maritime Services commented, “The addition of MAERSK MICHIGAN represents our commitment to expanding our U.S. flag fleet and to providing U.S. government customers with strategic tanker capacity where it is needed most. We are also proud that the ship will add new jobs and capacity to the overall U.S. flag fleet.”
MLL is an American company that provides U.S. government agencies and their prime contractors with comprehensive maritime and transportation services around the globe, utilising industry-leading technology to provide reliable, cost-effective transportation and maritime solutions. Safety is also of paramount importance and not long after the vessel was taken over, an order for 17 SOLASAFE solar shades was received at the Solar Solve Marine Facility in South Shields.
Rejecting up to 91% of the glare, 65% of the heat and 98% of the uv radiation from the sun, the SOLASOLV® solar shades were installed at the navigation bridge windows to protect ships personnel and to create a more effective and efficient environment in which to work. Having been designed more than 20 years ago to cover windows of maximum dimensions 3.5mts wide and 3.5 mts drop with one solar shade, the centre window of this vessel, although quite large at 2500mm width and 1050mm drop presented no problems.
