NASSCO delivers Jones Act tanker

NASSCO delivers Jones Act tanker United States Shipping Partners L.P. took delivery Tuesday of the first of nine 49,000-deadweight-ton Jones Act-compliant tankers being built under contract by General Dynamics’ NASSCO division.
   The 600-foot, double-hulled Golden State, named in honor of the State of California, is the first of the new class of tankers with a cargo capacity of about 331,000 barrels. In August 2006, General Dynamics received a $1 billion contract from U.S. Shipping Partners to build the nine ships.
   Christened during a Jan. 10 ceremony at the NASSCO shipyard, the Golden State will be used to carry petroleum and chemical products between U.S. ports. The vessel is scheduled to begin long-term charter operations with BP Shipping Ltd. this week.
   NASSCO, which began construction Saturday of the fourth of the new class of tankers, said the Golden State was delivered six months ahead of schedule and under budget.
   New Jersey-based U.S. Shipping Partners will manage the operation of the vessel on behalf of the limited partnership, which includes several third parties including the Blackstone Group.
   The U.S. Shipping partnership fleet, including the Golden State, comprises 11 tank vessels: four integrated tug barge units, one product tanker, three chemical parcel tankers and three articulated tug-barges.