NASSCO begins construction on second LNG-ready product tanker

General Dynamics NASSCO, a unit of General Dynamics, signaled the start of construction for the second of three 50,000 deadweight ton, 330,000 barrel cargo capacity product tankers for SEA-Vista Newbuild III, a subsidiary of SEACOR Holding.

Each LNG-conversion ready product tanker will be constructed at the NASSCO shipyard in San Diego under Jones Act requirements, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

These new 610-foot-long vessels are a continuation of the ECO MR Tanker design, offering improved fuel efficiency and incorporating the latest environmental protection features, including a Ballast Water Treatment System and reduced emissions, according to the statement.

The tankers were designed by DSEC, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) of Busan, South Korea. DSEC’s ECO design achieves improved fuel efficiency through several features, including a G-series MAN ME slow-speed main engine and an optimized hull form. The tankers will have conversion-capable, dual-fuel-capable auxiliary engines and the ability to accommodate the future installation of an LNG fuel-gas system and tanks.

Image: NASSCO