BP Purchases Three Tankers to Deliver North Slope Crude.

• Position: Brief Article

BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. has placed an order for three state-of-the-art, double-hull oil tankers for use in delivering Alaska North Slope crude oil to refineries on the U.S. West Coast. The order, worth in excess of $630 million, also includes options to purchase an additional three vessels.

National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. of San Diego is scheduled to deliver the first ship in late 2003 with subsequent ships being delivered in 2004 and 2005. BP will complete...