NASSCO Begins Construction of Product Carrier

General Dynamics NASSCO began construction of the second ship of its new class of product carriers. The shipyard is scheduled to lay the ship’s keel in June and deliver the ship to U.S. Shipping Partners in the second quarter of 2009. In August 2006, NASSCO received a $1b contract from U.S. Shipping Partners to build nine ships. The ships will be double-hulled, 600.4 ft. in length and displace 49,000 dead weight tons. With a cargo capacity of about 331,000 barrels, the ships are designed to carry petroleum and chemical products in Jones Act trade between U.S. ports.