NASSCO lays keel of T-AKE eleven

San Diego-based General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, laid the keel for USNS Washington Chambers, the eleventh ship of the Lewis and Clark class of dry cargo-ammunition ships (T-AKE). Construction of the Washington Chambers began in March and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in the first quarter of 2011.

NASSCO has delivered seven T-AKE ships to the Navy and is under contract to build five additional T-AKE ships, including the Washington Chambers. The Navy has also provided long-lead material funding to NASSCO for two more ships for a total class of 14 T-AKE vessels.

Located in San Diego, NASSCO employs more than 4,500 people and is the only major ship construction yard on the West Coast of the United States. In addition to the T-AKE program, the shipyard is also building a series of product carriers for American Petroleum Tankers, a shipbuilding joint venture led by the Blackstone Financial Group.