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On December 12, General Dynamics NASSCO launched the first ship in a series of Eco-class tankers for SEA-Vista LLC. The christening and launch ceremony took place at NASSCO's shipyard in San Diego.

The ship, named Independence [pictured], is a 610-foot, 50,000-deadweight-tonne, and LNG-conversion-ready product tanker with a 330,000-barrel cargo capacity. Construction work on the vessel began in November 2014.

As part of the launch ceremony, the ship's sponsor, Mrs. Allison Moran, CEO of RaceTrac Petroleum, christened the ship with a traditional champagne bottle break over the ship's hull. Mrs. Jayne Rathburn, former CEO/owner of US Joiner, pulled the trigger to release the ship into the San Diego Bay.

"General Dynamics NASSCO shipbuilders are revolutionizing the future of American shipping with the concept and construction of innovative, cost-saving, and environmentally-sound vessels," said Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager for General Dynamics NASSCO in a statement. "When delivered, these Eco-class, Jones Act-qualified tankers will be among the most fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly tankers anywhere in the world."

"We are pleased to complete this important milestone for the first in a series of three fuel-efficient, Eco Jones Act product tankers that will be delivering into the SEA-Vista fleet and operated by Seabulk Tankers, Inc.," said Daniel J. Thorogood, president and chief operating officer for Seabulk Tankers, Inc.

NASSCO is currently the only major shipyard on the West Coast of the United States conducting design, new construction and repair of commercial and US Navy ships.

As a complement to its government new construction business segment, NASSCO also carries out commercial shipbuilding. In the past decade, NASSCO has delivered 13 commercial ships and currently has eight commercial ships in its backlog, with an additional ship - an Expeditionary Mobile Base for the U.S. Navy - under construction.

For its commercial work, NASSCO also partners with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).

SEA-Vista LLC is a partnership between SEACOR Holdings Inc. and Avista Capital Partners. The new vessel is to be operated by Seabulk Tankers, Inc.