American Shipping Company
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Maritime, Shipbuilding |
| Predecessor | Aker American Shipping ASA |
| Headquarters | Oslo , Norway |
Area served | United States, Norway |
| Products | Merchant vessels compliant with Jones Act |
| Owner | Aker ASA (19.9% as of 2008) |
Number of employees | 1,300 (2007) |
| Parent | Aker Group |
American Shipping Company ASA (), previously known as Aker American Shipping ASA, is a maritime and shipbuilding enterprise operating under the Aker Group umbrella, with Norwegian-American roots. Initially, Aker ASA owned a majority 53.2% share, which it decreased to 19.9% by 2008. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has its main office located in Oslo, Norway. Around November 2007, its workforce numbered roughly 1,300 employees.
Overview
The American Shipping Company consists of two main divisions: the shipbuilding facility Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and the shipping entity American Shipping Corporation (ASC). The firm specializes in constructing merchant vessels compliant with the Jones Act regulations and, through its subsidiaries, owns and leases these vessels.
The Jones Act requires that all maritime transport between U.S. ports be conducted using U.S.-flagged ships that are constructed in U.S. shipyards, owned by American citizens, and crewed by U.S. personnel.
History
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard originated as Kværner Philadelphia Shipyard, created through a combination of public and private funding to revitalize the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, which ceased operations in 1995. After Kværner's takeover, ownership transferred to Aker.
In 2006, the shipyard completed delivery of the last vessel in a series of four containerships for Matson Navigation Company. Subsequently, production shifted toward building Veteran Class MT46 double-hulled product tankers intended for bareboat charter agreements with Overseas Shipholding Group, with construction continuing until 2012.
Fleet
- Overseas Houston
- Overseas Long Beach
- Overseas Los Angeles
- Overseas New York
- Overseas Texas City