Cloud class

The Cloud class are the smallest product tankers to be delivered under the 2016-17 BP Shipping fleet rejuvenation project.

Highly versatile, they were specifically designed for key BP trades and carry clean and dirty products and occasionally crude oil on BP business. Some of their maiden voyages  saw them loading palm oil or vegetable oil in pristine tanks.

The Cloud class are medium range tankers at 25,000 - 54,999 tonnes deadweight. At 39,999 tonnes deadweight and also known as a ‘Handysize’, they predominantly operate in north Europe and the Mediterranean.

Equipped with a variety of options to specialise in key regional markets, three vessels are ice-classed, winterised with heating coils ready to operate in north European & Baltic Sea ice zones during winter months. Two have exhaust gas scrubbers, a first for BP shipping and among the first in the industry for vessels of this type/size. 

The scrubbers remove sulphur oxides (SOx) and particle matter from exhaust emissions making them fully compliant with North Sea/Baltic legislation while burning heavy fuel oil. Having scrubbers also future-proofs the vessels for the global low sulphur oxide emissions legislation coming into effect in 2020. Three of the Cloud class are fitted with stern manifolds giving the ability to load/discharge from the rear of the ship - of particular importance in certain Mediterranean distillates trades.

At the time of delivery, the Cloud class were among the most technologically advanced tankers in the world and the most fuel efficient for their size and power.

BP operates these ships with its own crews.

What:

• Class: Cloud class
  
• Propulsion: Diesel/single propeller
   

Who:

• Operator: BP Shipping Limited
• Classification society: Lloyds Register
• Builder: Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Limited (Korea) 
• Vessels in class: British Cumulus, British Nimbus, British Stratus, British Altus, British Cirrus  

Where:

• Flag: British
• Port of registry: Douglas, Isle of Man
• Operates: Worldwide