Tuesday, March 10, 2015

NASSCO Lays Keel for Tanker

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.