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Freeport enters service this month
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| New jobs for AMO aboard first of four new Jones Act ATBs |
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The articulated tug-barge Freeport is scheduled to commence operation this month.
The Freeport is the first in a series of four ATBs U.S. Shipping Partners (USS) is committed to building over the next three years. All four vessels will be operated by U.S. Shipping and manned in licensed positions by American Maritime Officers and in unlicensed positions by the Seafarers International Union. "AMO welcomes these new opportunities for the membership in the domestic trades," said AMO National President Tom Bethel. "The addition of Jones Act tonnage to the U.S.-flag fleet is great news for AMO and the American maritime industry." USS also has nine 49,000 dwt double-hulled petroleum product tankers on order at General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, Calif. Delivery of the first ship in the series is expected in the second quarter of 2009. The tankers will also be manned in all licensed positions by AMO. The tankers will be time-chartered to U.S. energy firms for periods of three to 10 years, according to USS. USS currently operates the integrated tug-barges Baltimore, Groton, Jacksonville, Mobile, New York and Philadelphia and the tankers Chemical Pioneer, Charleston, Houston and Sea Venture, all under contract with AMO. |
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