Americas News
Construction Underway for "LNG-Conversion-Ready" Eco-Tankers
General Dynamics NASSCO (NASSCO) has announced at a steel cutting ceremony that construction has begun on the first of five Jones Act liquified natural gas (LNG)-conversion-ready tankers at it's San Diego, U.S. shipyard.
Designed by Daiwoo Ship Engineering Company of Busan, South Korea, the tankers are being built for American Petroleum Tankers (APT) as part of its Jones Act fleet for use between U.S. ports.
“Today’s start of construction ceremony signifies our ongoing relationship with American Petroleum Tankers” said Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager of NASSCO.
"NASSCO is pleased to continue our commitment as good environmental stewards by building the most energy-efficient tankers in the Jones Act fleet and in helping to sustain and grow highly-skilled jobs right here in San Diego."
The 610-foot-long, 50,000 deadweight ton vessels were said to be of "ECO" design and include fuel efficiency features such as a G-series MAN ME slow-speed main engine and an optimised hull.
The tankers will also feature environmentally friendly ballast water management systems as well as incorporating auxiliary engines with dual-fuel capability, and will be able to accommodate the future installation of an LNG fuel-gas system.
Energy major Shell said recently that LNG bunker prices need to be competitive with fuel oil before there would be widespread adoption of the new fuel.
