Page 96: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1996)

NEW" TONNAGE

Avondale Christens First

Deuble-Hulled Tanker For

AHL Shipping

O n September 28, Avondale

Industries, Inc. and American

Heavy Lift (AHL) Shipping

Company christened what is reportedly the first commercial, self-pro- pelled, double hull tanker built in the U.S. to conform with OPA90 and the Jones Act. The 680-ft. (207.2-m) product carrier was chris- tened Captain H. A. Downing.

The new ship is named for Captain Henry

A. Downing, who established AHL in 1985, and now presides as vice president and gen- eral manager of the company.

The ship is the first of four AHL tankers being built as double-hulled ships with the addition of a new 510-ft. (155.4-m) long dou- ble-hulled forebody constructed by Avondale.

The new forebody is joined to the renovated and modified existing stern section — where the engines, crew quarters and bridge are located — to complete the conversion into a modern, environmentally sound, double- hulled product carrier.

Before joining the forebody and stern sec- tions of the new ship, Avondale fabricated and installed three additional deck levels which were added to the stern's superstruc- ture.

The same procedure will be repeated on the three subsequent AHL vessels.

Construction is progressing on the remain- ing three ships in the AHL program. The second double-hulled forebody was launched on September 25, and the new ship will be christened Anasazi.

The forebody of the third ship, to be named

New River, is also presently under construc- tion at Avondale.

A keel-laying ceremony was held on

October 2 for the fourth ship, which will be named The Monseigneur.

The AHL double-hulled product carriers will transport refined products and chemi- cals. The ships have a beam of 90 ft. (27.4 m)

Captain H. A. Downing is shown on sea trials in the Gulf of

Mexico. and a draft of 36 ft. (11 m). They will dis- place 50,035 long tons and have a DWT of 39,400.

Powered by 15,000 hp, the new ships are reportedly capable of speeds of 15.5 knots at fully loaded cargo oil capacity of 275,800 bar- rels.

AHL Shipping Company, headquartered in

New Orleans, owns and operates a fleet of

U.S. flag product/chemical carriers.

Avondale Industries, Inc., also headquar- tered in New Orleans, designs, builds and overhauls both military and commercial ves- sels.

For more information on Avondale

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