By Mark Edward Nero
On March 6, the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San
Diego hosted a keel laying ceremony for the first Jones Act ECO tanker in a
series of five being built for Kinder Morgan’s American Petroleum Tankers (APT)
subsidiary.
During the ceremony, the wife of San Diego Mayor Kevin
Faulconer authenticated the keel of the first ECO tanker for APT by welding her
initials onto a steel plate. The steel plate with her initials will be permanently
affixed to the ship’s keel and remain with the vessel throughout its time in
service.
During a September 2014 ceremony marking the vessel’s start
of construction, Mayor Faulconer cut the first piece of steel used to build the
ship.
The 50,000-dwt, ECO tankers are built to a new design by
DSEC, a subsidiary of Busan, South Korea-based Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine
Engineering. The design incorporates improved fuel efficiency concepts through
several features, including a G-series MAN ME slow-speed main engine and an
optimized hull form.
The tankers are also designed with dual-fuel-capable
auxiliary engines and the ability to accommodate future installation of a
liquid natural gas fuel system.
“NASSCO is pleased to continue our commitment as good
environmental stewards by building the most energy-efficient tankers in the
Jones Act fleet and in helping to sustain and grow highly-skilled jobs right
here in San Diego,” General Dynamics NASSCO Vice President and General Manager
Kevin Graney said.