PTK starts construction of small tanker

Shipping company PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental (PTK), a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, held a keel laying ceremony on May 9 to officially mark the start of construction of a small crude tanker with capacity of 6,500 LTDW.

Pertamina said in a statement on Wednesday that the keel laying, which was held at the ASL Shipyard in Batam, Riau Islands Province, was attended among others by PTK and ASL top officials.

PTK hires Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (or ClassNK), a ship classification society, to oversee the construction of the tanker so as to meet the quality standard required by PTK customers as the company aims to become an international-standard shipping company.

PTK President Director, Giri Santoso said in the statement the tanker is expected to be completed on time, on budget, and meets the required quality.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak