Universe Apollo was the worlds first 100,000 deadweight ton oil tanker. She was built for Universe Tankships in the National Bulk Carriers yard in Kure, Japan in 1958. She was completed in only seven months, and entered service on 16 February 1959, sailing for the Persian Gulf on charter to Idemitsu Kosan, Ltd.
Universe Apollo is propelled by geared steam turbines developing 27,500 shaft horsepower with a service speed of about 15.5 knots. She had longitudinal bulkheads dividing her cargo space into four sections. In each of the two center sections there were 16 tanks, 40ft x 40ft, 67 feet deep. There were eight port and starboard wing tanks. With four steam turbine cargo pumps, she could discharge a full cargo in about 30 hours.
Her sister, Universe Daphne, completed in 1960, has similar characteristics. By 1962 with changes in the Rules for Tankers, they were given a deeper load line, and their tonnage was boosted upward of 120,000.
These were the largest ships produced by the NBC yard in Kure. After his lease expired and the yard reverted to Japanese management, Ludwig continued to have ships built there. He ordered even more ships from other Japanese yards, mainly Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries in Yokohama. The Universe Iran type tankers he ordered in the late 1960s were the world’s first 300,000+ ton tankers.
| Ship | Hull# | Built | GRT | DWT | Length | Beam | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universe Apollo | 66 | 1958 | 72,132 | 104,520 | 949’9″ | 135’5″ | First 100,000 ton tanker launched. Laid up Pireaus, Greece 1977. Scrapped Kaohsiung in fall of 1979. |
| Universe Daphne | 70 | 1960 | 72,268 | 107,520 | 949’9″ | 135’5″ | Universe Apollo class tanker. |
