AMO Currents - Keel laying at NASSCO for third new U.S. Shipping tanker

AMO Currents - Posted: December 4, 2008

Keel laying at NASSCO for third new U.S. Shipping tanker

A keel-laying ceremony was held in late November at General Dynamics NASSCO for the third tanker in a series U.S. Shipping Partners is building for the Jones Act trades.

Construction on the tanker, which will be named Sunshine State, began in July and the ship is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2009. The ships will be 600 feet long and have a cargo capacity of 331,000 barrels, and will carry petroleum and chemical products in the Jones Act trades.

The first ship in the series, Golden State, is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2009. American Maritime Officers represents all licensed officers working in the U.S. Shipping fleet.

U.S. Shipping has secured charters for four of the new tankers being built. Two of the charters are with major oil companies and the other two are with Military Sealift Command. The MSC time charters cover petroleum product transportation in support of the U.S. military, replacing two T-5 tankers expected to reach the end of their service life in 2010.