NASSCO lays keel of fourth product carrier

General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has laid the keel of the fourth ship of its State-class product carriers. The ship will be named Empire State.

NASSCO began constructing the Empire State last January. The ship will be double-hulled and have a cargo capacity of approximately 331,000 barrels. It will be used in Jones Act service, carrying petroleum and chemical products between U.S. ports. The shipyard anticipates delivering the vessel to U.S. Shipping Partners in the second quarter of 2010.