OREANDA-NEWS. TOTE’s 3100 TEU LNG-powered containerships took home the Next Generation Award at Nor-Shipping 2013 on June 4 in Oslo, Norway. TOTE, Inc. and General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), jointly applied for the award. The Nor-Shipping Next Generation Award recognizes the ship project that demonstrates the greatest advances in design, as assessed with respect to energy efficiency, innovation, suitability and flexibility; technology utilization; safety and security; and environmental sustainability.

TOTE awarded its 3100 TEU LNG-powered containership program to NASSCO in December 2012. When completed, the 764-foot-long containerships are expected to be the largest containerships in the world primarily powered by LNG, setting a new benchmark in “green ship” technology. Construction on the ships will begin in March 2014.

The containerships will be constructed at NASSCO’s shipyard in San Diego and designed by DSEC, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) of Busan, South Korea. The design will include DSME’s patented LNG fuel-gas supply system and a MAN ME-GI dual-fuel slow-speed engine.

In addition to the TOTE LNG-powered containerships, NASSCO recently entered into a contract with American Petroleum Tankers (APT) for the design and construction of at least four product carriers that will be ready for conversion to use LNG fuel. The 610-foot-long tankers are a new “ECO” design by DSEC that offers best-in-class fuel efficiency and incorporates the latest environmental protection features, including a ballast-water treatment system.

Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO, said, “We’re honored to be recognized by Nor-Shipping. The TOTE and APT programs demonstrate NASSCO’s commitment to be one of the most innovative shipyards in the world. These Jones Act ships represent a prelude to an international shift to energy efficient and environmentally friendly ships.”