National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) held a keel-laying ceremony for Hull 487, the fourth ship of the Alaska Class double-hull oil tankers being constructed for BP Oil Shipping Company, USA. BP’s Site Team Member John Penso welded his initials into the keel to signify the start of structural erection. "These double-hull tankers are providing BP with the best available propulsion, ship, and environmental control technologies to protect US waters," said Richard Vortmann, president of NASSCO. Vortmann added that the design of the 1.3-million-barrel-capacity tankers in the Alaska Class will allow maximum flexibility for oil deliveries to West Coast ports, including BP refineries in Los Angeles, CA, and Cherry Point, WA.