News in Brief: Esso Mercia Launched Bremen, Germany "The biggest tanker ever launched from a European slipway goes into the water in Bremen, Germany. She's the 171-thousand ton "Esso Mercia" and she'll have three begger sister-ships in a few years." VS of Esso Mercia oil tanker on slipway prior to her launching. LS crowd. TLS ship is christened with champagne. CU tanker sliding into the water. CU two women in the crowd. CU ship sliding into water. MS of Esso Mercia.