NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING’S SECOND DOUBLE-HULL TANKER, AGATHONISSOS, COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL SEA TRIALS

The ship, a 46,000 deadweight-ton vessel being purchased by Eletson Corporation, is the first ship built in an American shipyard for foreign export in nearly three decades. Agathonissos is also the second double-hull ship built in a U.S. shipyard that meets the requirements of the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90). OPA-90 requires that by 2015 all ships carrying petroleum products in U.S. coastal waters be double-hull. After delivery to Eletson, Agathonissos will transport products around the world. Newport News Shipbuilding delivered the first ship to meet this requirement, the American Progress, to Mobil Oil Corporation this past September.

"We’re very pleased with the successful completion of sea trials for the first Eletson Ship. Our team has worked hard to produce this great ship and all the shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding should be proud of their effort," said Bob Gunter, Double Eagle Program Director at Newport News Shipbuilding.

"Despite a few outstanding items, sea trials were generally performed to our satisfaction. The yard did the utmost during these six days and should continue to do so in order that the M/V Agathonissos, and our other two vessels which follow, perform safely and efficiently while in service. We look forward to her joining our fleet," said Lazaros Skoularikos, Eletson Site Office Manager.

In addition to Agathonissos, Newport News Shipbuilding is building two more Double Eagle-class tankers for Eletson and five more for a U. S. customer planning to use the ships for domestic trade.

Newport News Shipbuilding is America’s premier shipbuilding company with annual revenues of approximately $1.8 billion and 18,000 employees. The company is the leader in the design and construction of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy and produces a variety of ships for domestic and international customers.