NEW ORLEANS, La., May 1, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Litton Avondale Industries, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), delivered the POLAR ENDEAVOUR on April 30, 2001, the first of five Millennium Class double-hull crude carriers it is building for Polar Tankers, Inc., of Long Beach, Calif. Polar Tankers is the shipping unit of Phillips Alaska, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Phillips Petroleum Company.
The Millennium Class next-generation tankers being built at Litton Avondale are the first new crude-oil carriers produced for the Alaskan trade in compliance with the Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The Millennium Class tankers are being built to meet or exceed existing and proposed environmental regulations and will set new standards for innovation and environmental protection.
After delivery of the POLAR ENDEAVOUR, Litton Avondale currently has four more 125,000 DWT crude oil carriers under contract with Polar Tankers, Inc. The second ship, POLAR RESOLUTION, was christened in March and is scheduled for delivery later this year. The third ship, POLAR DISCOVERY, is under construction and expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2002, while the keel will be laid this summer for the fourth ship, POLAR ADVENTURE.
Recently, Polar Tankers exercised an option with Litton Avondale for construction of the fifth and as-yet unnamed double-hull Millennium Class tanker. Along with the award of the fifth ship, Litton Avondale and Polar agreed to options for a sixth and seventh ship. The option for the sixth ship is subject to exercise in the third quarter of 2001, and the seventh during the fourth quarter of 2001.
"We are delighted to deliver the first double-hull crude carrier to Polar Tankers, Inc. It is an important milestone for both Polar and our shipyard," said Thomas M. Kitchen, president, Litton Avondale Industries. "With the experience of having completed the first of this unique class of ships, we are achieving the benefits of learning efficiency as we build the follow-on vessels in this program."
The crude carriers are 272.69 M long by 46.2 M wide by 26.3 M deep (894.7' x 151.6' x 86.29'). The ship's total capacity of just over one million barrels of oil will be carried in 12 cargo tanks. The inner and outer hulls of the Millennium Class tankers are separated by a distance of 10 feet, which exceeds regulatory requirements. This design allows for greater protection of cargo tanks and limits oil release if damages reach both hulls.
In addition to being built with double hulls that exceed regulatory minimums, the tankers incorporate double, independent engine rooms, twin propellers and twin rudders for greater maneuverability. The Millennium Class vessels will have all cargo, fuel and lubricating oils isolated from the ship's side by ballast tanks or void spaces. The vessels will meet pending air emissions regulations for engines. The ships are also being painted with tin-free, anti-fouling paint in anticipation of proposed regulations.
They were designed specifically for the transport of crude oil from Valdez, Alaska, to the West Coast of the United States through some of the most severe trade routes in the world. The ships will also deliver cargo to Hawaii. Polar Tankers' fleet consists of four vessels ranging in size from 50,000 to 190,000 DWT. The entire fleet is employed in the Alaskan crude trade.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $15 billion, global aerospace and defense company with its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in defense and commercial electronics, systems integration, information technology and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With 80,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.
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