In 2007, AHL Shipping committed to build three tankers in conjunction with Shell Trading Company, however construction was suspended in November, 2010, when Dos Raven Tankships (DRT), Keet Steel Tankships (KST), and First Mesa Tankships (FMT) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Louisiana federal bankruptcy court. According to TradeWinds, a shipping trade publication, they speculated that the first vessel, DRT’s hull number 103, is 90% complete, KST’s hull number 104 is 60% complete and the third ship, FMT’s hull number 105 is 35% complete. American Shipper, another industry publication, wrote that the ships were to be shallow draft so they could call at a wider range of ports and were to have twin-screw, diesel electric propulsion engine systems.
Bidders participating in this auction will be able to place bids both on-site and via webcast [see www.hilcoind.com]. On February 15 and 16, and the morning of February 17, walk-around auction sales will be held in Mobile, Alabama and Harvey, Louisiana. On the afternoon of February 17, assets from the other locations (referenced at Hilco Industrial’s website, http://goo.gl/rss99) will be sold in a theater-style auction in Harvey, Louisiana. For more information on the Keet Seel and First Mesa Tankships auction and to register for the webcast, please visit http://goo.gl/rss99.