Feature 1
Shell tankers will be ready to trade
Building starts on state-of-the art Jones Act tankers in US yards.
C
onstruction has started on of the project in July 2007. its hull modules on 18 February 2008.
the first of a series of three R&R is one of the primary shipyards According to AHL president Richard
49,000dwt, Jones Act chemical/ involved in the construction of Horner, these vessels will set a new
product tankers for San Antonio, modules for the shallow-draught standard for Jones Act petroleum
Texas-based AHL Shipping Co, after AHL vessels. The builder further transportation, featuring diesel-
February’s steel cutting ceremonies began construction of the engineroom electric redundant propulsion systems,
at R&R Shipbuilding, in Port Arthur, power module for the first vessel on and their status as the first tankers
Texas, just over seven months after the 25 February, with Atlantic Marine designed and constructed to meet the
finalisation of contracts and financing Alabama set to begin construction of Common Structural Rules adopted
by the International Association of
Classification Societies as of April
2006.
Modular construction
They will also be the first vessels of
this size to be built in the US using
the modular construction concept.
The vessels will go on long-term time
charter to Shell Trading in 2009/2010.
The vessel design is also suited for
incorporation of dynamic positioning
capabilities and operation in the
emerging Gulf of Mexico shuttle
tanker trade.
The 188m long ships will feature
beams of 32m, depth of 18m, and
draught of 11m at 42,400dwt. All three
are being built based on a proprietary
AHL design, and will be double-hull,
International Maritime Organization
Type II and III vessels. They will have
a cargo capacity of 330,000 barrels,
to transport crude oil, chemicals,
and products within domestic US
trade lanes. Vessel attributes include
twin-screw, diesel-electric propulsion
engine systems, to improve vessel
efficiency and reduce emissions.
Hull construction and final assembly
of the vessels will be conducted at
Atlantic Marine Alabama, but several
shipyards and specialty companies are
under contract with AHL, as well as
R&R, including Aker Yards Marine,
Louisiana Machiner y, and Ship
Constructions Strategies, Inc. NA
Steel cutting starts on the first of three
Jones Act compliant 49,000dwt tankers.
The Naval Architect March 2008 31
NA Mar 08 - p31.indd 31 10/03/2008 14:00:37
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