NASSCO starts work on product carriers for U.S. Shipping Partners

NASSCO starts work on product carriers for U.S. Shipping Partners San Diego-based shipyard General Dynamics NASSCO has started construction of the first of nine product carrier ships ordered in August 2006 by U.S. Shipping Partners in a contract worth $1 billion.
   The double-hulled ships will be 183 meters (600.4 feet) in length, displace 49,000 deadweight tons and will have a cargo capacity of about 331,000 barrels. They are designed to carry petroleum and chemical products in U.S. Jones Act trades.
   NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., is building the ship from designs provided through its collaboration with DSEC of Korea, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.
   The San Diego yard is scheduled to deliver the first ship to USS in early 2009.
   In addition to the product carrier ship program, NASSCO is also building the new class of T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ships for the U.S. Navy.