September 2017
The SIU in late July welcomed news of the delivery of a state-of-the-art tanker that will sail in the Jones Act trade.
The American Liberty is the third of four 50,000 dwt product tankers built by Philly Shipyard (a union facility) for American Petroleum Tankers (ATP), a Kinder Morgan subsidiary. It’ll be operated by SIU-contracted Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning.
“It looks really good,” said AB Jeffrey Beasley, one of the first SIU members to climb the American Liberty’s gangway. “Everything is brand new, clean and well-structured. I’m looking forward to sailing on it.”
“We are proud to deliver another quality vessel to American Petroleum Tankers,” remarked Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard’s president and CEO. “This vessel is delivered on time, the hallmark of great shipbuilding that our customers depend on. As we celebrate this achievement and say farewell to the American Liberty, we wish the crew a safe and successful voyage beyond our shipyard here in Philadelphia.”
The 600-foot-long tanker is the twenty-seventh vessel built by Philly Shipyard (formerly named Aker Philadelphia Shipyard). In a news release about the July 27 delivery, the yard noted that the American Liberty’s design “incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability, and the latest regulatory requirements. The vessel has also received LNG Ready Level 1 approval from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). [It] has a carrying capacity of 14.5 million gallons of crude oil or refined products,” which equates to around 337,000 barrels. The ship can sail at 15 knots.
The Jones Act requires that cargo moving between domestic ports be carried on vessels that are crewed, built, flagged and owned American. The nation’s freight cabotage law helps sustain nearly half a million U.S. jobs while contributing billions of dollars to the American economy each year.
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