The ships are undergoing extensive preparations for service as floating storage and offloading (FSO) units. Pictured is the main deck area, forward port, with the import export manifold fitted and new pipe racks, port and starboard laydown areas, heaters, VOC units, metering skids and seperation units in place.
The TI Class of ships are the four largest double-hulled supertankers in the world, and as of 2004 became the largest ocean going ships since the previous largest, the single hulled supertanker Knock Nevis was converted to a permanently moored floating storage and offloading unit (FSO). The class comprises the ships TI Africa, TI Asia, TI Europe and TI Oceania, where the “TI” refers to the VLCC Tanker Pool operator Tankers International L.L.C. The class were the first ULCCs (Ultra-large crude carrier) to be built for 25 years.