M/T Polar Discovery’s Maiden Voyage to Port Freeport

The M/T Polar Discovery made its maiden voyage to Port Freeport on Wednesday, September 3. The Polar Discovery is classed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and joins two sister ships, Polar Endeavour and Polar Resolution, in the ConocoPhillips U.S. flag fleet carrying crude oil from Alaska to the West Coast and Hawaii. Port Freeport Chairman of the Board Thomas S. Perryman presented Captain Dan Ellison with a maiden voyage plaque after a vessel tour given by ConocoPhillips’ marine division. “We are committed to operating and maintaining the safest and most environmentally sound vessels available,” said Antonio Valdes, general manager of ConocoPhillips’ marine division. “The Endeavour Class tankers are outstanding vessels, and the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems shipyard in Avondale, La., is to be commended for their unparalleled workmanship and dedication to deliver this fleet.” Endeavour Class vessels have double hulls with 10 ft. of space between the inner and outer hulls, two independent engine rooms, redundant propulsion and twin steering systems, a bow thruster and state of the art navigation systems. Two additional Endeavour Class tankers are currently under construction at the Avondale shipyard and are scheduled for delivery in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The entire ConocoPhillips U.S. flag tanker fleet will be double-hulled by 2008.