MSC reconfigures tanker fleet

This seagoing force of government-owned and U.S.-flagged chartered ships is acquiring a new chartered ship, MT "Empire State", as two government-owned ships complete their service to the command. The newly built, U.S.-flagged "Empire State" came under charter to MSC for up to five years and will operate worldwide carrying refined petroleum products for DOD, primarily between commercial refineries and DOD storage and distribution facilities. "Empire State" is owned and operated by a private shipping company under contract to MSC.

Built at General Dynamics, NASSCO in San Diego, the double-hulled "Empire State" has a cargo-carrying capacity of approximately 331,000 barrels. A second State-class tanker is currently under construction at NASSCO and is expected to come under charter to MSC in early 2011.

Two of MSC's four government-owned tankers transferred out of service Oct. 1: USNS "Paul Buck" and USNS "Samuel L. Cobb". Upon deactivation from MSC service, they transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet, which comprises about 30 dry cargo ships and tankers kept in reserve for possible activation and use in support of national defense and national emergencies.