APSI holds keel laying ceremony for product tanker

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA’s wholly-owned US subsidiary, Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. (APSI), announced that it recently held a keel laying ceremony for a product tanker that it is building with Crowley Maritime Corp.

This is the fourth of four product tankers that APSI is contracted to build with Crowley. The 50 000 DWT product tankers are based on the Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) design which incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability, and the latest regulatory requirements. The vessels will be constructed with consideration for the use of LNG for propulsion in the future.

Keeping with tradition, coins were placed on one of the keel blocks before the unit was lowered into place in the dry dock. On behalf of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, upcoming graduates of the shipyard’s apprenticeship programme placed the ceremonial coins. The upcoming graduation class will add 24 skilled shipbuilders to the workforce, bringing the shipyard’s apprentices to approximately 10% of its current workforce. The shipyard plans to hire 50 additional apprentices in 2016.

Steinar Nerbovik, APSI’s President and CEO, said: “Together we celebrate this important milestone for our vessel and our apprentices by wishing good fortune to both. Empowering fine people and building a solid core of skilled employees is part of our long-term plan to maintain our position as a premier shipyard and employer. Congratulations to all of our current and past graduates on a job well done.”

Edited from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/21092015/apsi-holds-keel-laying-ceremony-for-product-tanker-1329/