Newport News Shipbuilding Delivers Converted Tanker Exxon Galveston

The tanker Exxon Galveston, the newest addition to the Exxon Company, U.S.A. ocean fleet, was christened on June 10 at the Port of Galveston, Texas.

Mrs. W.T. Slick Jr., wife of a senior vice president of Exxon Company, U.S.A., broke the traditional bottle of champagne during the christening ceremony.

The Exxon Galveston is 552 feet long, 95 feet wide, and has a displacement of 27,240 deadweight tons at a full-load draft of 29 feet 6 inches, and was formerly the tug-barge unit Exxon Sunshine State/Port Everglades, which was constructed in 1970 by Gulfport Shipbuilding. The conversion to a tanker was completed by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Va., earlier this year.

The new twin-screw tanker is powered by two 3,500-hp General Motors Electro-Motive diesel engines driving through air clutch reversing reduction gears. Maneuvering capabilities are electrohydraulic by two steering rudders and four flanking rudders. The vessel is automated for pilothouse operation of the propulsion system.

The engineering plant was designed for automation and monitoring systems meeting U.S.

Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping requirements for unattended engine-room operation.

The cargo-handling system includes two independent tank gauging systems, overflow alarms and piping systems which automatically distribute any overflows into adjacent tanks. The vessel also has a segregated ballast system which meets the latest U.S.

Coast Guard requirements. Special mooring and cargo-handling systems enable the ship to tie up to a permanently moored offshore storage vessel and load cargo through a floating cargo hose.

The communications equipment is the latest, consisting of radio telegraph, single-sideband radiotelephone, several VHF radiotelephones, and UHF radio. Navigation equipment includes the latest type dual radars, a computerized collision-avoidance system, radio direction finder and Loran C navigation, and dual Fathometer.

The living accommodations provide housing for 24 crew members, with a central galley serving separate mess areas for the officers and crew. Lounges with television, a stereo tape deck system, and electronic video cassette players are adjacent to the officer and crew mess areas. All living spaces are air-conditioned.

Addition of the Galveston increases the Exxon Company, U.S.A.'s ocean fleet to 18 vessels.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 11, Jul 1978

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