General Dynamics NASSCO Starts Construction of Tenth T-AKE Ship

SAN DIEGO --- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, today began construction of the tenth ship of the U.S. Navy's T-AKE program. The ship will be named later and is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in the third quarter of 2010.>> The T-AKE ship incorporates international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features, including an integrated electric-drive propulsion system to minimize operating costs over its projected 40-year service life. The primary mission of the ships is to deliver as much as 10,000 tons of food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to combat ships at sea.>> NASSCO has delivered the first five ships of the T-AKE class and has construction contracts for five additional ships. The Navy is expected to order the construction of a total of 14 ships.>>> Located in San Diego, NASSCO employs more than 4,800 people and is the only major ship construction yard on the West Coast of the United States. In addition to the T-AKE program, the shipyard is building the first three product carriers under a nine-ship order from U.S. Shipping Partners L.P.>> General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 84,600 people worldwide and anticipates 2008 revenues of approximately $29.5 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.>> -ends->>