The vessel was ordered in 1971 by Lars Krogh & Co., Koppang and the keel was laid under the hull number 286 on 29.03.1974. The builder’s yard was Uddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla, Sweden and the vessel was launched on 26.09.1974. She was delivered to her owners I/S Wind Endeavour on 14.12.1974 as the WIND ENDEAVOUR and she flew the Norwegian flag. Lloyd's Register No.: 7389235, GRT: 65,554, NRT: 48,912, DWT: 126,999. Call sign: JXEZ. Her managers were Erling H. Samuelsens R/A, Koppang, Oslo. The maiden voyage was to Galveston to load cargo for India. Her first master was Capt. Arthur Andenes.
In September 1977 the tanker was sold for 12,287,000.- USD to Afran Transport Co., Monrovia (Gulf Oil Company, later taken over by Chevron), and then to Afran Bahamas Ltd., Monrovia and renamed AFRAN WAVE. She was registered under Liberian flag with home port Monrovia. Official No.: 6095. Call sign: 6ZGM.
In June 1982 it was purchased for 6,250,000.- USD by Solva Corporation, Monrovia and put under the management of Metrofin Ltd., Zürich. Renamed SOLVA. She remained under the Liberian flag (same official number and same call sign) GRT: 60.449, NRT: 49.177, DWT: 128.358. Note the design of this tanker was based on the same hull, as the Uddevallavarvet built bulk carriers AKRON and LOUSSIOS.
The crude oil tanker was divided into 12 cargo tanks with a total capacity of 157’583 m3. She was fitted with IGS (inert gas system) and with a crude oil washing system. These systems, together with the clean ballast tanks and the "load on top" concept (slops from tank cleaning are loaded onto the next cargo) allowed that only clean ballast water was discharged during the tanker’s operation. No tank heating coils were installed, therefore only light crude oils could be carried. Four centrifugal cargo pumps from JMW, Sweden were fitted, two driven by steam turbines and two by diesel engines.
The propulsion was by one slow speed, 7-cylinder cross head diesel engine from B & W, type: 7K90GF developing 23,900 BHP @ 114 RPM, build by Uddevallavarvet A/B, Uddevalla. Electrical power (AC 3-phase 450V, 60Hz) was supplied by 2 diesel generators of 850 kVA each (one alternator driven by one of the cargo pump diesels) and one steam turbine generator of 870 kVA. Steam was supplied at 12,5 kg/cm2 pressure by one dual-pressure boiler from Aalborg Vaerft, type: AT4 and of a capacity of 35 t/h. One exhaust gas boiler and one auxiliary/exhaust gas boiler were also fitted.
During the time in Metrofin management the SOLVA was mainly trading in the Atlantic Ocean, from West Africa to the Caribbean Islands (St. Croix), USA (Philadelphia) and Europe. In West Africa the tanker used to load at offshore terminals, located about 10 to 20 miles from the coast, moored to a SPM-buoy (Single Point Mooring buoy), such as the terminals of Brass River, Pennington, Escravos, Bonny in Nigeria, Kole and Moudi in Cameroon, Djeno in Congo, just to name a few.
The crew of about 27 to 30 men consisted of a German captain, North European and Spanish officers with the ratings first coming from the Philippines, but later from Spain (Galicia). A few Swiss seamen (2-3 persons, mainly in the engine department) were also on board during most of the times.
In May 1989 the SOLVA was sold to Pelham Shipping Inc., Monrovia (Management: Fred. Olsen &. Co., Oslo) and renamed KNOCK DEE and in July 1989 resold to Deesyndicate Inc., Monrovia (Management: Fred. Olsen &. Co., Oslo), but not renamed.
In 1992 the management was transferred to Red Band AS, Oslo and in November 1993 the ship was sold to Knock Dee Shipping Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda with management: Red Band AS, Oslo (First Olsen Tankers Ltd., Monrovia). The vessel sails still under the name KNOCK DEE and under the Liberian flag with the same call sign and same official number. She is mainly trading as a shuttle tanker along the South African coast.
1995: Gross: 63,057, Net: 39,640, DWT: 128,358.
2002 sold to Taggart AS (Management: Red Band AS, Oslo), Monrovia. Not renamed.
In December 2005, transferred to Knock Dee (Pte.) Ltd. (Management: Fred Olsen Marine Services AS, Oslo), Singapore. Not Renamed. Official No.: 391737. Call Sign: 9VCU5.
00.09.2010: Name changed to DEE. Port of Registry Moroni. Flagged by Comoros. Call sign: n.a. Broken up by Rushil Industries Ltd in India for $430 per LDT (17,960 LDT) $7,722,800 total.