2 MTU Detroit Diesel 16V/4000 engines - 1875 HP @ 1600 RPM - 130,000 LB bollard pull - NautiCAN nozzles with stators -  Rapp Hydema towing winch - SOMAR tow pins - Schuyler rubber fendering - 125,000 gallons fuel capacity - 10,500 gallons potable water - 1,690 gallons lube oil.

Construction begins with steel plate and angle iron members cut & laid out for tacking together. This is all done on a flat concrete floor. Then ship fitters will begin to place the parts on the cut bulkhead plate and tack weld them down. At the same time a steel construction jig is being constructed in the Slipway or "Ways" that will provide a shaped surface on which to lay the keel plate and bottom shell plating. Once all of the steel members have been added , they are all welded in by a production welder.

The ship is beginning to take on it's bottom shape and bulkheads are installed. Now the ways looks empty, however it will fill up in a short time. This view shows the size of the building the ship is built inside of. In view is half of the total space.

Setting longitudinal & transverse bulkheads in the fuel tank area.

Bulkheads are brought in from the shop where they are built and stood up on the bottom shell plate using an overhead crane, then braced in an upright position. Next they are located on the mold lines and tacked to the shell plate. Here an army of welders begin to weld all the seams and joints.

With the fuel tank bulkheads in place, deck stiffeners are added. Temporary wooden planks are used so the workers have the ability to get to the separate compartments of the fuel tank area. Below the bottom shell plate is the jig that the ship is constructed on. As the work progresses the jig will be removed and stored for future hulls of the same class.

With all the bulkheads, intermediate frames and horizontal girder along with the deck stiffeners in place, it is ready for some side shell plate.

Side shell plate is being installed using the overhead crane and a spreader bar. Once down and in place, fitters will latch small hand driven winches or "Come-a-longs" with pulling power between 1.5 and 3 tons to the side shell and pull it in to the frames where they are tack welded. This plate is the upper chine side shell, the open area for the next plate up will have the sheer strake. This sheer strake makes up the horizontal shape of the main deck and is an extra thick plate to withstand the forces applied to the rubber fenders used in pushing.

Building the steering gear room.

Bulkheads wing voids and bottom frames are installed. This area will have all the gear necessary for steering the vessel, Hydraulic lines will come from the engine room supplying the power needed to drive the hydraulic cylinders that actuate the rudders

The stern section is lifted into place using the overhead crane and a spreader bar, this makes up the final module for the stern section below the main deck.

The forward fuel tanks are built as part of the lower bow section. Above the fuel tank area will be the fo'c'sle or "forecastle" this will provide living quarters for some of the crew. Visible are the frames that makeup the shape of the forward hull. Later the forward bow section will be attached

A fitter lights his cutting torch in preparation of trimming in a section of shell plate. Each piece of shell plate is lapped over the last and it is trimmed along the edge for a precise fit while in place. As the fitter cuts the excess, the edge of the plate slips into place for tacking.