A refurbished oil tanker that has for the past two years provided reliable service to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as a carrier of crude oil has been unveiled at the Tema Drydock.
The 243 metre long vessel christened M/T OCEANIDA brought from Cyprus was overhauled at a cost of over one million dollars, the largest single contract ever executed at the Drydock. The ship was launched on the 31st January, 1980 and delivered on the 30th April that same year.
The Director of Tsakos Group, operators of the ship, Captain Alkiviadis Kappas in an interaction with the press on board the vessel said Tema has a magnificent asset in the Tema Shipyard and it has enormous potential. He said the group has brought in and drydocked over four large vessels.
"The drydock could be permanently used for such ships, if it could become more competitive both in respect of time and costs. It is unique position in West Africa with the largest capacity in the area," he said
On why the group chose to drydock at Tema despite the fact that it has cost them double what other shipyards would have charged, he said, "is our commitment in reinvesting some of the money earned back into the country."
He said the group has provided work for over 500 Ghanaians in addition to that of the shipyard, adding that they have brought in technicians and modern technology which has benefitted the Ghanaians working alongside.
"We ourselves employ Ghanaians seamen on our ships and we would like to be in a position to increase the numbers and the ranking. We also strongly believe that there is an untapped market in Ghanaian fitters and technicians which could be employed on vessels worldwide for repairs."
Captain Kappas said it is his hope to see Ghana take her place as a substantial maritime nation, with Ghanaians flag vessels sailing worldwide and Ghanaian crewmembers on board.
He said the group has enjoyed an excellent relationship with TOR, "we have assistance from them in terms of machinery and we in turn have assisted in other commercial ways."
Tsakos Group presented a cheque of $5,000 to the Maritime Academy and announced the setting up of two scholarships per year for the best Ghanaian cadets graduating from the academy. One would be for the best deck cadet to attend the Hydra International Greek Maritime Academy and the second would be for the best engine cadet to attend the Maritime Engineering School of Chios.
