NASSCO delivers final eco class tanker

On June 7, General Dynamics NASSCO delivered the final ECO Class tanker “Palmetto State” to American Petroleum Tankers (APT), as part of an eight-tanker program deal. The vessels are the most environmentally friendly tankers to enter the Jones Act trade, offering 33 percent increased fuel efficiency and a corresponding reduction in ship emissions.

The Palmetto State was delivered to APT, during a signing ceremony at the NASSCO shipyard, in San Diego. In 2013, NASSCO entered into agreements with two companies, APT and SEA-Vista, LLC, to design and construct a total of eight 610-foot-long, 50,000 deadweight-ton, LNG-conversion-ready product tankers to include a 330,000 barrel cargo capacity each.

“The ECO Class tanker program pushed us to develop more efficient planning and production techniques, and fundamentally improved the way we perform every day,” said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics NASSCO.

NASSCO is the only major shipyard on the West Coast of the United States conducting design, construction and repair of commercial and U.S. Navy ships. For its commercial work, NASSCO partners with South Korean ship designer, Daewoo Ship Engineering Company (DSEC).