The Observer, September 2003
Polar Discovery to begin Alaska Service
The Polar Discovery, ConocoPhillips’ newest double-hull tanker, was delivered in early September to Polar Tankers, the oil company’s shipping subsidiary. It will join its two sister ships, the Polar Endeavour and Polar Resolution, in carrying Alaska crude oil to the West Coast and Hawaii.
"We are committed to operating and maintaining the safest and most environmentally sound vessels available,” said Antonio Valdes, general manager of ConocoPhillips’ marine division.
The new tanker is an Endeavour Class vessel, with 10 feet of space between the inner and outer hulls, two independent engine rooms, redundant propulsion and twin steering systems, a bow thruster and state of the art navigation systems. Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Avondale, La., built the vessel.
Two additional Endeavour Class tankers are currently under construction at the Avondale shipyard and are scheduled for delivery in 2004 and 2005, according to a ConocoPhillips press release. The company says its entire U.S. flag tanker fleet will be double-hulled by 2008.
The double-hulled Polar Discovery.