General Dynamics NASSCO Delivers Second ECO Class Product Carrier to American Petroleum Tankers
Shipbuilders at General Dynamics NASSCO celebrated the delivery of the Magnolia State to longtime customer American Petroleum Tankers (APT). The ECO Class tanker is one of the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly tankers in the world and symbolizes the emerging future of green shipping. It is also the fifth ship NASSCO shipbuilders have delivered in the past eight months.
The Magnolia State is the second of a five-tanker contract between NASSCO and APT, which calls for the design and construction of five 50,000 deadweight ton, LNG-conversion-ready product carriers with a 330,000 barrel cargo capacity. The 610-foot-long tankers are equipped with a new “ECO” design, which provides a 33 percent fuel efficiency improvement compared to product tankers built only a few years ago.
The construction and operation of the new ECO Class tankers are aligned with the Jones Act, requiring that ships carrying cargo between U.S. ports be built in U.S. shipyards, further protecting hundreds of thousands of American jobs and almost $100 billion in annual economic impact as a result of the domestic American maritime industry.
In December 2014, U.S. Representative Scott Peters signaled the start of construction of the Magnolia State. In June 2015, California State Assemblywoman and Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins laid the keel.
The ships were designed by DSEC, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) of Busan, South Korea. The design incorporates improved fuel efficiency concepts through several features, including a G-series MAN ME slow-speed main engine and an optimized hull form. The tankers will also have dual-fuel-capable auxiliary engines and the ability to accommodate future installation of an LNG fuel-gas system.
The Magnolia State, along with others in the ECO Class, are the first in the Jones Act fleet to obtain a PMA+ Notation from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), representing compliance with one of the highest standards of human factors in engineering design. The PMA+ notation is created to facilitate safe access to vessel structure and spaces in ways that are rooted in the fundamentals of human ergonomics.
Source: General Dynamics NASSCOPosted On:23-May-2016
Credits: www.hellenicshippingnews.com |
Judging panel for TMS Awards confirmed
A high quality judging panel has been assembled for the TMS Awards 2016, which takes place at The Atlantis, The Palm, on October 24th. Chaired by Clive Woodbridge, editor of The Maritime Standard, the panel includes leading executives in the container, bulk and tanker shipping industries, as well as senior figures in the ports industry across the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent.
Trevor Pereira, The Maritime Standard, managing director, says, "We have been fortunate to have gained acceptance from some of the best known names in the business to be on the judging panel. The industry will I am sure trust in their judgment in determining worthy winners in all categories."
The full list of judges is: Mohammed Ali Ahmed, COO, DP World; Angus Frew, secretary general and CEO, BIMCO; Abdulrahman Essa Al-Mannai, president and CEO, Milaha; Abdulkareem Mubarak Ahmed Al Masabi, chairman, Abu Dhabi Terminals; Andre Toet, CEO, Sohar Port; Captain B.B. Sinha, chairman and managing director, The Shipping Corporation of India; Tarik Al Junaidi, CEO, Oman Shipping Company; Rajiv Agarwal, CEO and managing director, Essar Port; Jorn Hinge, president and CEO, United Arab Shipping Company; Koichi Murata, regional manager, ClassNK; Ali Shehab Ahmed, deputy chief executive, KOTC; Captain Brian Course, quality and compliance manager, Bahri and Captain Jitendra Misra, managing director, Emarat Maritime;.
Mr. Pereira adds, "Work preparing for the Awards is now well underway. Nominations will open on June 1st and will close on 10th August. The judges will only judge categories allotted to them so there will be no conflict of interests. This will be a very independent, transparent process, as we want everyone to be assured that these Awards genuinely reward only the best in their fields."
Details of the categories and of the criteria for entry can be found on the Awards website: www.tmsawards.com/award-categories.
Finalists will be announced on 20th September. Mr. Pereira says, "I would urge people to book tables before finalists are announced as we find that when the announcement is made there is a rush for tables." Tables will be made available on a first come first served basis. There will be limited space and the event is sure to sell out fast, the organisers stress.
Source: The Maritime Standard Awards 2016Posted On:23-May-2016
Credits: www.hellenicshippingnews.com |
