U.S. shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO on October 23 hosted a keel laying ceremony for the third ECO tanker, the future Garden State, ordered by American Petroleum Tankers (APT) and currently under construction at the company’s shipyard in San Diego.
The ECO tanker is the third of a five-tanker contract between General Dynamics NASSCO and APT, which calls for the design and construction of five 50,000 deadweight ton, LNG-conversion-ready product carriers with a 330,000 barrel cargo capacity.
The 610-foot-long tankers are also equipped with Ballast Water Treatment Systems.
The ships were designed by DSEC, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) of Busan, South Korea. The design incorporates a G-series MAN ME slow-speed main engine and an optimized hull form. The tankers will also have dual-fuel-capable auxiliary engines and the ability to accommodate future installation of an LNG fuel-gas system.
The construction and operation of the new vessels are aligned with the Jones Act, which requires that ships carrying cargo between U.S. ports be built in U.S. shipyards.
“As we lay the keel for this Jones Act-qualified tanker, we are reminded of the hard work by hundreds of NASSCO shipbuilders who constructed this ship piece by piece – and our commitment as a company to design, build, and deliver high-quality, forward-thinking products for our customers. When delivered, these tankers will be among the most fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly tankers—anywhere in the world,” said Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager for the San Diego-based shipyard.