Aker Philadelphia Delivers First Liberty-Class Tanker to SeaRiver

File photo courtesy Aker Philadelphia Shipyard

Jones Act shipbuilder Aker Philadelphia has delivered the first of two Liberty-class aframax tankers to ExxonMobil’s U.S. marine affiliate, SeaRiver Maritime.

The 820 foot long, 115,000 deadweight ton tanker, named Liberty Bay, will transport up to 800,000 barrels of Alaskan North Slope crude oil from Prince William Sound, Alaska to the U.S. West Coast. The vessel is equipped with double hull protection, the latest navigation and communications equipment, and an energy efficient engine.

“We are proud to have delivered this fine vessel, the Liberty Bay, to a first class customer such as SeaRiver and are confident it will serve them well for many years. The men and women of the shipyard have completed the largest vessel built in Philadelphia in nearly 70 years and further cemented APSI’s important place as part of the domestic energy solution,” said Steinar Nerbovik, APSI’s Managing Director.

As previously disclosed in Aker Philadelphia’s Q1 2014 report, a defect in the vessel’s propulsion system was discovered during sea trials in March 2014. All remedial efforts to resolve this issue, in addition to owner requested change orders, were completed as planned. The rework impacted the vessel’s schedule, but did not result in any liquidated damages.

APSI is currently constructing an additional 115,000 dwt crude oil tanker for SeaRiver and two 50,000 dwt product tankers for Jacksonville, Florida-based Crowley.

In addition to the vessels currently under construction, APSI has contracts for two more 50,000 dwt product tankers for Crowley, two 50,000 dwt product tankers for the recently formed Philly Tankers LLC, and two 3,600 TEU containerships for Matson Navigation with deliveries in 2018.

Delivery of the second Liberty-class vessel is expected by year-end 2014. SeaRiver Maritime’s contract with Aker for the two tankers is valued at approximately $400 million, according to ExxonMobil.