NASSCO, BP Hold Naming Ceremony

Preparing to name the Alaskan Frontier are Richard Vortmann, President of NASSCO, ship's Sponsor Pamela Olver, spouse of Richard Olver, Deputy Group Chief Executive of BP, Richard Olver, Diane Malone, Matron of Honor, spouse of Bob Malone chief executive of BP Shipping, Ltd., and Bob Malone.

National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO joined BP p.l.c. in naming the Alaskan Frontier, the first of four Alaska-class double-hull oil tankers being built for BP Oil Shipping Company.

Pam Olver, spouse of Richard Olver, deputy group chief executive of BP, was the ship's sponsor, naming the Alaskan Frontier and striking a ceremonial bottle of champagne on the ship's hull. Bob Malone, chief executive of BP Shipping, Ltd., was the keynote speaker at the event. Diane Malone, his spouse, served as the Matron of Honor for Mrs. Olver. Dick Vortmann, president of NASSCO, also spoke at the event.

The double-hull ships have a length of 941 ft. (287 m) and a beam of 164 ft. (50 m). The 1.3-million-barrel-capacity tankers will make oil deliveries from Alaska to West Coast ports, including BP refineries in Los Angeles, Calif., and Cherry Point, Wash.

The four ships are scheduled to be delivered between now and the end of 2006. The ships are being constructed sequentially in NASSCO's 1,000-foot graving dock.