Page 51: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 1997)

American Progress

Shipyard Newport Nows Shipbuilding

Ship type DH Product tanker

Ship nam* AmerUan Progress

Owner/operator Mobil Oil Corp.

Inclusion of the Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS)-built American Progress as a Great Ship of 1997 is significant for many factors. The ves- sel, christened in early September and deliv- ered to Mobil Corporation, is a double-hull petroleum products tanker. More importantly, perhaps, is that it is the first double-hull vessel built in a U.S. shipyard to standards required in OPA 90, which « requires all ships carrying petrole- um products in

U.S. coastal waters to be dou- ble-hull by 2015.

It is also the first ocean "This fine ship underscores our commitment to operate a fleet of state-of-the-art double-hull vessels that meet or exceed U.S. and interna- tional environmental and safety requirements," commented Gerhard Kurz, president of Mobil

Shipping and Transportation Company. "The

American Progress reflects Mobil's dedication to maintaining its leadership position in marine transportation. But double-hull tech- nology is only part of the answer. Well trained crews, good maintenance practices, a sound management structure and a total commitment throughout the organization are also essential."

American Progress was originally named

Despotico when it was first commissioned by

Eletson Holdings of Piraeus, Greece. The con- tract between NNS and Eletson was the first commercial ship order to an American shipyard from an international customer since 1957.

However, before building had reached comple- tion, an agreement among the three companies had Despotico sold to Mobil and renamed. The new ship will be Mobil's third double-hull ves- sel to enter service and is the first of nine dou- ble-hull tankers — the Double Eagles — being built at NNS. going petroleum tanker built in America in more than a decade.

The ship will transport gasoline and distillates primari ly from Mobil's Beaumont, Texas refinery to its markets in Florida.

The 46,000-dwt Double Eagle product tanker follows in a distinguished lineage of vessels built at NNS, most ships of late for the U.S.

Navy. In its 111-year history, the yard has pro- duced approximately 800 ships.

The U.S.-flag ship is powered by an MAN

B&W main engine — producing 10,800 bhp at 96 rpm — which will drive the ship to a service speed of 14.5 knots. It measures 600 x 105.6 x 36.7 ft. (183 x 32.2 x 11.2 m), and has a 55,000 cu. m. cargo capacity.

While built in the U.S., the ship contains a large amount of top equipment from suppliers around the globe, including: Unitor and Shinko firefighting equipment; Schat-Harding life sav- ing equipment; Aalborg Sunrold boilers;

Porsgrunn steering gear; a Nakashima pro- peller; an Alfa Laval fresh water generator; a

Detagasa bilge water separator; a Kay

Lindegaard incinerator; Shinko pumps; a

Permea Martime Protection inert gas system; and more. "The builder's trials went extremely well.

American Progress met all of her performance requirements and is a quality ship — one that will be a great addition to our 111-year legacy of building great ships," said Bob Gunter,

Double Eagle program director at the shipyard.

American Progress

Main Particulars

Classification ABS Oil Carrier

Length, o.a 600 ft. (183 m)

Length, b.p 572 ft. (174.3 m)

Breadth 105.6 ft. (32.2 m)

Depth 63 ft. (19.2 m)

Draft, design 36.7 ft. (11.2 m)

Draft, scantling 40 ft. (12.2 m)

DWT, design 40,878

DWT, scantling 46,095

Cargo capacity (100%) 55,000 cu.m.

Ballast capacity (100%) 19,800 cu. m.

Brake horsepower, CMCR 10,800 metric BHP x 96 rpm

Brake horsepower, NCR 9,180 metric BHP

Trial speed, NCR 14.5 knots

Accommodations 28 persons

No. tanks 14

Cargo segregations 3

Fuel consumption, NCR 26.7t/day

Main Engine MAN B&W, slow-speed diesel engine

FiFi Equipment Unitor, Shinko

Life Saving Equipment Schat-Harding

Boilers Aalborg Sunrod

Steering Gear Porsgrunn

Propeller Nakashima

Fresh Water Generator Alfa Laval

Bilge Water Separator Detegasa

Incinerator Kay Lindegaard

Cargo Pumps Shinko

Inert Gas System Permea Martime Protection

Tank Cleaning Machines Toftejorg

Sewage Plant Hamworthy

Oil Discharge Monitor and Control System Navalimplanti Group

Designed in-house by Newport News Shipbuilding, the first Double

Eagle shuttle tanker sailed off of the CAD/CAM screen and into

Mobil's fleet this year. 50 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News