General Dynamics NASSCO lays keel for APT’s fifth LNG-ready tanker

The San Diego-based shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO on Friday held a keel laying ceremony for the Palmeto State, fifth and final LNG-ready vessel for American Petroleum Tankers, a Kinder morgan unit. 

The Palmetto State is the eighth ship to be constructed as part of an eight-ship ECO Class tanker program for two customers, American Petroleum Tankers and SEA-Vista, NASSCO said in its statement.

The first five ships of the program have been delivered and are currently in service. The Lone Star State, the Magnolia State, and the Garden State, have been delivered to APT, while Independence and Constitution have been delivered to SEA-Vista, a SEACOR Holdings and Avista Capital Partners company.

The shipyard has three ECO Class tanker currently under construction with delivery dates scheduled for the near future. The Palmetto State is scheduled to be delivered to American Petroleum Tankers in 2017.

Each ship of the ECO Class program is a 610-foot-long, 50,000 deadweight-ton, LNG-conversion-ready product tanker with a 330,000 barrel cargo capacity.

LNG World News Staff