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On December 4th, General Dynamics NASSCO delivered the company's first 'ECO-class' tanker, the Lone Star State, to American Petroleum Tankers (APT).

The vessel is the first of a five-tanker contract between NASSCO and APT, which calls for the design and construction of five 50,000-deadweight-tonne (dwt), LNG-conversion-ready product tankers with a 330,000-barrel cargo capacity.

The 610-foot-long tankers include a new 'ECO' design, which NASSCO says offers "significantly improved fuel efficiency" and the latest environmental protection features including a Ballast Water Treatment System.

The ships were designed by Daewoo Ship Engineering Company (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 Diesel & Turbo ME slow-speed main engine and an optimized hull form. The tankers will also have the ability to accommodate future installation of an LNG fuel-gas system.

In a statement, NASSCO said: "The construction and operation of the new tankers are aligned with the Jones Act, which requires that ships carrying cargo between U.S. ports be built in U.S. shipyards."

Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO, commented: "The delivery of this new vessel symbolizes the future of American shipping: innovative, cost-effective, and green. The Lone Star State, along with the four others we are currently building for APT, will be among the most fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly tankers anywhere in the world.

"These tankers are 33 percent more fuel efficient than the previous five tankers built by NASSCO for APT. We are proud to be leading the charge in building these next generation of tankers."

Between 2007 and 2010, NASSCO built five similar State-class product tankers for APT.

Robert Kurz, vice president of Kinder Morgan Terminals and president of American Petroleum Tankers, a Kinder Morgan, Inc. subsidiary, remarked: "We are very excited to be taking delivery of the Lone Star State. This state-of-the-art tanker is a welcome addition to our growing fleet and will provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation service to our customers for many years to come. We thank NASSCO for their tremendous support in achieving this important milestone."