The SIU-contracted tanker Alaskan Explorer (above) was delivered earlier this week to BP Oil Shipping Company, USA.
The vessel is the second of four Alaska-class double-hull oil tankers being built in San Diego for BP. The third ship is scheduled for delivery in late 2005 and the fourth ship in 2006.
The first in the group, the Alaskan Frontier, entered service last year. It is operated by SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Co., as will be the case with its sister ships.
Each vessel is 941 feet long, with a beam of 164 feet and a capacity of 1.3 million barrels of oil.
In announcing the Alaskan Explorer’s delivery, the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) described the Alaska-class vessels as “the most environmentally friendly oil tankers ever built. Their double-hull construction has been designed for a life of 35 years and their deck structure has a life of 50 years, a robust configuration that will perform at peak efficiency for decades in the rigors of the Gulf of Alaska’s waters. The diesel-electric propulsion system, with redundant engines, shafts and screws, significantly increases reliability and reduces air emissions and maintenance downtime. The ships use seawater instead of oil to cool and lubricate their propeller shafts, eliminating the possibility of accidental oil leaks. Their cargo piping, normally installed on the deck, is run inside the cargo tanks, to reduce the risk of small spills.”
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