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 was 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]

See also

References
  1. Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. p. 50. ISBN 1904459552.
  2. Hired Tankers Hansard Written Answers - House of Commons, publications.parliament.uk, 27 October 2003
  3. "Maersk Tankers Linked to Sale of Two MR1 Oldies". Offshore Energy. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  4. www.marinetraffic.com https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:185382/mmsi:233816000/imo:9167150/vessel:DOLICHA_BAY. Retrieved 3 June 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)


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