LNG-ready Liberty
The third and final LNG-ready tanker to be constructed for SEA-Vista LLC was delivered at the beginning of March by General Dynamics NASSCO. The 610-foot-long tankers are a new “ECO” design, offering improved fuel efficiency and cleaner shipping options. Named Liberty, it’s sister ships the Independence and the Constitution, have been delivered and are servicing the Jones Act trade.
In 2013, NASSCO entered into an agreement with SEA-Vista to design and build three 50,000 deadweight-ton, LNG-conversion-ready product carriers to include a 330,000 barrel cargo capacity each. Construction for the first of the three ships for SEA-Vista LLC began in November 2014.
“We are grateful for our partnership with SEA-Vista and the opportunity to design and construct three vessels equipped with world-leading technology and capability that will service their customers for decades to come,” said Steve Davison, vice president of pre-production operations for General Dynamics NASSCO.
The Liberty is the seventh vessel in an eight-ship ECO Class tanker program for two separate customers, SEA-Vista LLC and American Petroleum Tankers. The eighth ship of the program, the Palmetto State, is scheduled to be christened and launched on March 25, 2017, at the NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.
For its commercial work, NASSCO partners with South Korean ship designer, Daewoo Ship Engineering Company (DSEC), for access to state-of-the-art ship design and shipbuilding technologies.
(Source: General Dynamics NASSCO)
