NASSCO cuts steel for third ECO tanker

The US shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO held a steel cutting ceremony for the third Jones Act ”ECO” tanker to be built for American Petroleum Tankers at its San Diego-based shipyard.

APRIL 6, 2015 — In a steel cutting ceremony at its San Diego shipyard last week, General Dynamics NASSCO signaled the start of construction of a third ECO tanker to be built for Kinder Morgan subsidiary American Petroleum Tankers.

Each of the five 50,000 dwt, 330,000 bbl product carriers to be constructed by NASSCO for American Petroleum Tankers will be LNG-conversion ready.

"This is an exciting time in the U.S. maritime industry," said Parker Larson, the shipbuilder's director of commercial programs. "These Jones Act product tankers demonstrate implementation of state-of-the-art design technologies that achieve world-leading fuel efficiencies and also represent new jobs in our shipyard."

The five-tanker contract is instrumental in helping to sustain and grow NASSCO's workforce of nearly 3,800. NASSCO began construction on the first tanker under the current contract in September 2014.

"We are very pleased to be commencing construction of our third ECO Class tanker at NASSCO. These world class vessels will be a welcome addition to the APT fleet as we continue to strive toward providing our customers with the highest level of service," said Rob Kurz, president of American Petroleum Tankers.