Led by two tugboats, the 99,500 metric ton Esso Orient (above) begins her maiden voyage in the Johore Straits on her way to Pulau Ayer Chawan - where she was later loaded with LPG (liquified petroleum gas), fuel oil, diesel, kerosene and gasoline for Hong Kong on November 19. The multi-petroleum products carrier had just been relaunched from Sembawang Shipyard which converted the new tanker from a 124,000 metric ton crude carrier during some five months of extensive repair and modifications. The cost of the conversion totalled $l0,3 million. Conforming to the latest safety regulations of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO), the Esso Orient is equipped with an electronic collision-avoidance system for safe operations in all weather; new and better equipped life boats; an improved mooring system; and modern fire-fighting equipment. She also has a computer which gives instant readings of the vessel's loading conditions, and all cargo pumps can be stopped immediately by pushing a button in any of six strategically-located stations, if necessary, during an emergency. New cargo features comprise four on-deck LPG “bullets” with their own dry chemical fire fighting systems. The original 13 crude oil compartments and two regulated ballast compartments have been designed and increased to 17 and 4 respectively. Seven of the tanks were gritblasted and coated internally, involving an area of 45,000 sq. metres and 3,500 tons of grit. Valves for all cargo facilities are remotecontrolled from an extended control room built for this purpose. The cargo pipelines were also extensively altered, and a 15 metre LPG vent mast was built to take into the atmosphere any possible LPG vapours from the relief valves of the LPG system. The Esso Orient loading at PAC (Pulau Ayer Chawan ) product berth.