U.S.T. Atlantic-class supertanker explained

The two ships of the U.S.T. Atlantic class, the U.S.T. Atlantic and U.S.T. Pacific, were the largest ships ever built in the Western Hemisphere.

Newport News Shipbuilding were the builders, the only American shipbuilders with the facilities for ULCC construction. A third vessel of the class ordered by Zapata Ocean Carriers was canceled.^[1]

At full load, the ships drew nearly 752NaN2 and were unable to visit any ports in the continental United States, unless lightered or light ship.

History

The tankers were built in 1979 at Newport News Shipbuilding's shipyard in Newport News, Virginia. Each vessel cost approximately 136.4 million USD.^[2]

In June 2004, the Marine Atlantic—ex U.S.T. Atlantic—was sold to Indian breakers. After clearing Indian customs, she was intentionally beached in India for ship breaking.^[3]

In 2007, the Marine Pacific I—ex U.S.T. Pacific—was extensively rebuilt as an FSO for the Campos Basin and renamed Cidade de Macae.^[4]

See also

• List of world's longest ships

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20090707021125/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/active/newportnews.htm
• https://web.archive.org/web/20080905163347/http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/postwwii/tankers.htm
• Cidade de Macae, ex U.S.T. Pacific

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20090707021125/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/active/newportnews.htm
2. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/merchantships/postwwii/tankers.htm Tankers Built in the U.S. since WWII
3. http://www.aukevisser.nl/supertankers/id46.htm Marine Pacific
4. http://www.modec.com/fps/fpso_fso/projects/pra.html FSO Cidade de Macae MV15