NASSCO BEGINS WORK ON FIRST OF TWO TRAILERSHIPS FOR TOTE

NASSCO BEGINS WORK ON FIRST OF TWO TRAILERSHIPS FOR TOTE    The National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. has begun work on the first of two new roll-on/roll-off trailerships for Totem Ocean Trailer Express.
   The ships will be used in the Seattle-based ocean carrier’s Tacoma-to-Anchorage service. The ships are scheduled for delivery October 2002 and April 2003.
   'This is the first commercial dry cargo vessel to be built in the United States in 10 years,' said Richard Vortmann, president of the San Diego, Calif. -based shipyard. 'The TOTE ships will be the first to benefit from nearly $85 million in capital investments NASSCO is making to its shipyard.'
   The new ships, designated the Orca Class, will be 839 feet long and have a beam of 118 feet. They will each carry 600 cargo trailers and 200 autos, a 50-percent capacity improvement over existing ships.
   'The ships are designed for the rigors of Alaskan service, powered by twin propulsion plants, each having its own propeller and rudder system' NASSCO said. 'They will be the first ships in the U.S. powered by an integrated diesel-electric propulsion system, and will achieve speeds up to 24 knots.'