Californian shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO launched and christened on May 7 in San Diego another ECO Class tanker, the Garden State, that will join the Jones Act fleet.

The Garden State is the third of five tankers within the contract between NASSCO and American Petroleum Tankers (APT), which calls for the design and construction of five 50,000 dwt, LNG-conversion-ready product carriers with a 330,000 barrel cargo capacity.

In October 2015, the company held a keel laying ceremony for Garden State.

“NASSCO is proud to be building yet another quality product tanker for longtime partners American Petroleum Tankers and Kinder Morgan,” Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO and Bath Iron Works comments.

The Garden State and other ships from the ECO Class are the first in the Jones Act fleet to obtain a PMA+ Notation.

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 delivery of the vessel to APT is scheduled for August 2016.

Image Courtesy: General Dynamics NASSCO