NASSCO christens San Diego-built product tanker Golden State

The following is the text of a press release issued Jan. 9 by General Dynamics NASSCO:

 

(SAN DIEGO) — General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today delivered the first ship of its new line of product carriers to U.S. Shipping Partners. The ship will be christened and named the Golden State in a 6 p.m. ceremony tomorrow at the NASSCO shipyard.

NASSCO began constructing the Golden State in August 2007. At a length of 600 feet, the ship has a cargo capacity of approximately 331,000 barrels and will be used to carry petroleum and chemical products between U.S. ports. The ship is named in honor of the State of California.

“NASSCO completed the Golden State six months ahead of our original schedule, under budget, while simultaneously meeting or exceeding all quality requirements,†said Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. “The completeness and superb material condition of this first-of-class ship reflects an outstanding start to the Product Carrier program at NASSCO.â€

NASSCO today also began construction of its fourth product carrier, which will be named Empire State in honor of the State of New York. The shipyard is scheduled to lay the Empire State’s keel in May and deliver the ship to U.S. Shipping Partners in the first quarter of 2010. The San Diego shipyard is under contract to build a total of nine product carriers.

General Dynamics NASSCO employs more than 4,700 people and is the only full-service ship construction and repair yard on the West Coast of the United States. In addition to the product carriers, the San Diego shipyard is building dry cargo-ammunition ships for the U.S. Navy. More information about NASSCO can be found at www.nassco.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 91,200 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

By Professional Mariner Staff