SPLIT SHIPYARD DELIVERS FIRST OF SIX TANKERS FOR GREEK CLIENT

SPLIT, Feb 20 (Hina) - The first of six tankers ordered by Greek ship-owner European Navigation was delivered in the Brodosplit shipyard in the southern Adriatic city of Split on Tuesday.#L# The tanker was delivered three and a half months before deadline, which helped save almost $2 million. Documents on the delivery were signed by Brodosplit manager Vinko Rosic and European Navigation owner Spyros Karnessis. Rosic said the deal represented a watershed in the business of the Split shipyard as besides a delivery ahead of deadline, it indicated an increase in the company's productivity, a trend he said would be pursued in the future. Voicing satisfaction with the business cooperation, Karnessis said the new tanker would be rented by Shell, the multinational oil company, as would the next two tankers from the series. Shell is impressed with the construction of the ship, the equipment and quality of the work, and will give priority to ships built in Split in the future, the Greek businessman said. (hina) ha