The tanker program at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is progressing in timely and efficient fashion, including the delivery last month of the Overseas New York – the fourth Seafarers-contracted ship in a series of 12 scheduled for completion by early 2011.As previously reported, the program also features an “option agreement” for up to 13 additional doublehulled product tankers, meaning the total could reach 25 ships.
The 600-foot-long Overseas New York was christened April 7 and delivered four days later. According to the shipyard, the newest ship, like the others in the program, will be leased for charter in the Jones Act market to SIU-contracted OSG America.
“The Overseas New York and the other tankers that have already been delivered signify good news not just for the SIU but for the American maritime industry as a whole,” said SIU President Michael Sacco. “When you see new, quality tonnage entering the domestic fleet, it represents shipboard and shore-side jobs and a boost to the economy.”
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard President Dave Meehan stated, “Completion of this vessel is very significant, and not just because it is delivered on the very day we promised our investors three years ago. We have made the task of successfully building ships here in Philadelphia routine and expected. Still, we can never lose sight of the hard work and challenges overcome by the men and women who built this vessel. The Overseas New York is going to be a valuable addition to Aker American Shipping’s modern fleet of tankers.”
A week before the christening, the shipyard conducted a keel-laying ceremony for the sixth Veteran Class MT46 tanker (a ship scheduled for completion next year). As part of the ceremony, coins were placed under the keel block, recreating a longstanding shipbuilding tradition whereby special coins are hidden in the keel section of a vessel as a permanent symbol of good fortune and safe travels.
That particular ship is the tenth constructed by the yard since 2000. Besides the other tankers already built (Overseas Los Angeles, Overseas Houston and Overseas Long Beach) or currently under construction, Aker Philadelphia also built four containerships for Seafarers-contracted Matson.
Each tanker weighs approximately 46,000 deadweight tons and is capable of transporting the equivalent of 14 million gallons of liquid product.
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