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General Dynamics NASSCO (NASSCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has hosted a christening ceremony for the second Eco-class tanker for American Petroleum Tankers (APT), under construction at the company's shipyard in San Diego.

U.S. Representative Scott Peters spoke at the ceremony, and the ship's sponsor, Mrs. Trang Cormack, christened the ship with the traditional break of a champagne bottle alongside the ship.

The tanker Magnolia State [pictured] is the second 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 carriers with a 330,000-barrel cargo capacity. The 610-foot-long tankers are equipped with a new 'Eco' design, which is said to provide "a very significant improvement in fuel efficiency".

According to NASSCO, the Magnolia State will be "one of the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly tankers in the world" when it is finally delivered to APT.

"The revolutionary ECO Class provides our customers with an alternative option for transporting product that is cost-effective and friendly to the environment," said Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. "Like the Magnolia State, each ship designed and constructed at NASSCO is built with pride and ownership. Our shipbuilders know they're not just building a product tanker - they're building a vessel that helps fuel our economy."

"We look forward to taking delivery of our second ECO Class tanker from NASSCO. This is another example of American Petroleum Tanker's commitment to building our fleet and servicing our customers. And we thank NASSCO for their continued support which paved the way for this important milestone to be achieved," said Robert Kurz, vice president of Kinder Morgan Terminals and president of American Petroleum Tankers, a Kinder Morgan, Inc. subsidiary.

Construction of the Magnolia State commenced in December 2014, and California State Assemblywoman and former Speaker, Toni Atkins, laid the keel in June 2015.

"The Magnolia State created good jobs for San Diegans and will provide a safe, more efficient, and cleaner way transport fuel across the ocean. It was an honour to be present at the start of is construction, and it's an honour to see her off," said U.S. Representative Scott Peters.

The construction and operation of the new Eco-class tankers are aligned with the Jones Act, requiring that ships carrying cargo between U.S. ports be built in U.S. shipyards.

The ships were designed by 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 ME slow-speed main engine and an optimized hull form. The tankers will also have dual-fuel-capable auxiliary engines and the ability to accommodate future installation of an LNG fuel-gas system.