Shuttle tanker (DP)

A shuttle tanker is a purpose-built crude tanker that lifts oil directly from an offshore field, an FPSO, FSO, or a loading buoy, and carries it to shore, working as a floating pipeline where a fixed line is uneconomic. It carries a bow or stern loading system and a dynamic positioning class DP2 system that holds station, often heading-controlled into weather, while connected to the offshore unit in open sea. Shuttle tankers serve the North Sea, Brazilian pre-salt, and offshore Canada, typically in the Aframax or Suezmax size range. The DP2 redundancy keeps the ship on position if a single thruster or generator fails during a loading connection.