Photo courtesy Doc Searls. http://www.flickr.com/photos/52614599@N00/285571775/
Firms sign $500 million contract for first four ships
BOILERMAKERS LOCAL 19 and other unions of the Philadelphia Metal Trades Council see more work coming their way, thanks to a new contract signed by employer Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. (APSI) and joint venture partner Crowley Maritime Corp. The contract calls for four 50,000 dwt (deadweight ton) petroleum product tankers with the possibility of four additional ships.
The initial order is valued at $500 million, with delivery in 2015 and 2016. Construction of the first ship is expected to begin in January 2014. L-19 members are currently constructing two 115,000 dwt crude oil carriers for SeaRiver Maritime, Inc., ExxonMobil Corporation’s U.S. marine affiliate. Both of these crude oil tankers are scheduled for delivery in 2014.
APSI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Norwegian company Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA. Tankers built by APSI are covered by the Jones Act, which requires that ships engaged in U.S. coastwise trade be built, flagged, owned, and crewed by U.S. citizens.
The two companies stated that Crowley will maintain control over the ownership, technical operation, and commercial management of the vessels while both firms share in the economics of the operation and chartering of the new vessels. Crowley is a U.S. corporation headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.
Local 19 was chartered as a shipbuilding and marine lodge in 1914.
