Construction Underway On TOTE Jones Act Vessels

Construction Underway On TOTE Jones Act Vessels

Award-Winning Newbuilds Will Service Coastal Trades Between Northwest, Alaska

      Construction of two Jones Act trailerships for Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., (TOTE) began June 4 at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, Calif. Delivery of the ships is scheduled for October 2002 and April 2003.
     TOTE is building the ships to service their coastwise route between Tacoma, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska. The new ships, designated the Orca Class, will be 839 feet long with a beam of 118 feet, and will each have a capacity of 600 cargo trailers and 200 vehicles.
     "This is the first commercial dry cargo vessel to be built in the United States in 10 years," said Richard Vortmann, president of the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company. "We applaud TOTE for building these ships under the provisions of the Jones Act, legislation that has helped preserve strong U.S. shipping and shipbuilding industries for nearly three-quarters of a century."
     The new ships, designed for the rigors of the Alaskan run, are powered by twin propulsion plants, each having its own propeller and rudder system. They will be the first ships in the U.S. powered by an integrated diesel-electric propulsion system, and will be able to achieve speeds of up to 24 knots.
     "TOTE has been the recipient of two environmental awards for the design of the Orca Class vessels," said Robert Magee, TOTE president and CEO. "In July 2000, the States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force awarded its Legacy Award 2000 to TOTE in honor of its commitment to the environment and vessel safety by designing and building new cargo vessels with state-of-the-art oil spill prevention and marine safety features.
     "In September 2000, TOTE was awarded the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner's Pollution Prevention Award 2000," Magee said.
     American Maritime Officers represents the licensed officers working aboard TOTE's three active trailerships--the Northern Lights, Great Land and Westward Venture--and will represent the officers aboard the newbuilds. The ships are operated for TOTE by Interocean Ugland Management.
     TOTE is a privately owned Alaska corporation operating a regular cargo steamship service between the continental U.S. and Alaska. Their newbuild project has defused the arguments of critics of the U.S. shipping industry that commercial companies would be unwilling to build new Jones Act tonnage as the existing fleet ages.

Front Page

Return To Section-Front