By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 28 -- BP Oil Shipping Co. USA said the third of four Alaska-class double-hull crude oil tankers being built by National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. (Nassco), San Diego, was delivered Nov. 22. The fourth ship will be delivered in late 2006.
The Alaskan Navigator, 25% owned by BP, will be operated by Alaska Tanker Co. of Portland, Ore. It will join the Alaskan Frontier and the Alaskan Explorer, which were delivered August 2004 and March 2005, respectively, in delivering crude oil from Alaska to BP's refineries in Los Angeles and Cherry Point, Wash.
Earlier this year both the Alaskan Frontier and the Alaskan Explorer, each 193,050 dwt, were pulled from service in Alaska when cracks were found on the plating of their rudders (OGJ Online, May 24, 2005).