NASSCO starts construction of fourth BP oil tanker

NASSCO starts construction of fourth BP oil tanker    The National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. has started construction on the last of four new double-hull oil tankers for BP Oil Shipping Co. USA.
   Richard Vortmann, president of San Diego, Calif.-based NASSCO, said the four 1.3-million-barrel-capacity tankers will be used to transport oil from Alaska to West Coast ports, including BP’s refineries in Los Angeles and Cherry Point, Wash.
   The first BP ship, “Alaskan Frontier,” was delivered by NASSCO on Aug. 1. On July 2, the second ship was floated out of NASSCO’s graving dock. The third ship is under construction in the graving dock. The second, third and fourth ships will be delivered in 2005 and 2006.