Safer was built in 1976 by the Hitachi Zosen Corporation in Japan as the oil tanker Esso Japan.[1] As built, she had measured 192,679 gross tons and 406,640 deadweight tons, with a length of 362 metres (1,188 ft) and a beam of 70 metres (230 ft).[1] She was powered by a single steam turbine that gave her a service speed of 15.5 knots (17.8 mph).[1]