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More progress reported in Aker Philadelphia tanker program (3/31)

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard has issued the following news release, which also is available on the yard’s web site HERE KEEL LAYING TAKES PLACE FOR TENTH VESSEL BUILT AT AKER PHILADELPHIA SHIPYARD (31.03.08) Section of product tanker set in the Building Dock PHILADELPHIA, PA (March 31, 2008) – Aker Philadelphia Shipyard today held a keel laying ceremony for the sixth Veteran Class MT46 product tanker in the yard’s current build program. When completed in 2009, the vessel will be 600 feet in length and be capable of transporting the equivalent of 14 million gallons of liquid product. The ship is the tenth constructed by the yard since 2000. As part of the ceremony, coins were placed under the keel block recreating a long-standing shipbuilding tradition whereby special coins are hidden in the keel section of a ship as a permanent symbol of good fortune and safe travels. Steinar Nerbovik, Vice President of Projects represented Aker Philadelphia Shipyard in the ceremony and was joined by Chief Warrant Officer Roger Bogert of the United States Coast Guard. Upon completion, the vessel will be sold to Aker American Shipping, which in turn will lease the ship to Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. for operation in service to oil companies. The first three vessels in the tanker build program were delivered in 2007 and are currently in service, while the fourth vessel in the series has completed sea trials and is scheduled for delivery in April. The fifth, sixth, and seventh vessels in the series are also under construction at the yard. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is a leading US commercial shipyard constructing vessels for operation in the Jones Act market. It possesses a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility and has earned a reputation as the preferred provider of oceangoing merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is a member of the Norwegian-based Aker family of global companies, leaders in global growth markets including energy technologies, energy resources, maritime technologies, seafood and marine biotechnology. ###