The CCME invited tenders from German and foreign shipyards to shorten Marcus by13m and its loading tank volume to 556m 3and create a 66.3m long and 11.4m wide oil collection vessel drawing 2.8m.

Planning and tenders are with Bremen engineering firm Lasse + Pache. It has designed pollution control ships using skimmer, sweeping arm, oil boom and brush and mop-up systems, as well as 'scissor' hull vessels for over 20 years. Jurgen Pache told MJ conversion details had been requested by more than 10 shipyards up to the end of September, two from outside Germany. That was more than the usual 6-8 requests received in such cases, he said.

The contract was due to be signed in December, Pache said, after which the conversion is expected to take a year. Trials have been set for December 2005 and the converted vessel is expected to enter service for the CCME in January 2006.

Free floating arms will be installed on both sides of the Marcus and reports said talks were already underway with both German and other EU equipment supply firms to come up with the best system. In addition to the installation of oil collection plant, the conversion project will cover extensive steel work, pipe installation, hydraulic system changes as well as a new auxiliary Diesel engine plant and new accommodations.