NASSCO Starts Building APT’s 4th ECO Tanker
Ceremony signaled the start of construction for APT-4 ECO Tanker, the fourth of five Jones Act tanker ships to be constructed at NASSCO for American Petroleum Tankers.
General Dynamics NASSCO signaled the start of construction of the fourth of five “ECO” tankers to be built for American Petroleum Tankers (APT) at a steel cutting ceremony on Friday, May 8, at NASSCO’s San Diego shipyard.
U.S. Rep. Susan Davis helped signal the beginning of construction by pressing a button to cut the first piece of steel.
Each of the five 50,000 deadweight ton product carriers to be constructed by NASSCO will be LNG-conversion ready and will carry 330,000 barrels of cargo. With a specialized ECO design, the tankers are more energy efficient and incorporate environmental protection features, including a Ballast Water Treatment System, the builder said.
“These Jones Act-qualified tankers are some of the most energy-efficient, fuel-saving and cost-effective tankers in the world. They are also instrumental in providing high-quality, good-paying jobs,” said Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics NASSCO. “NASSCO is leading the way in America for designing and building new and innovative green ship technologies.”
The five-tanker contract has been instrumental in helping to sustain and grow the company’s local workforce. NASSCO began construction on the first tanker under the current contract in September 2014.
The construction and operation of the new vessels are aligned with the Jones Act, requiring ships carrying cargo between U.S. ports to be built, crewed and owned by the U.S.