SAN DIEGO, May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today began construction of the fifth ship in its series of product carriers. The shipyard is scheduled to deliver the ship to U.S. Shipping Partners in the third quarter of 2010.

The ship will be named "Evergreen State," the state nickname of Washington. Designed to carry petroleum and chemical products in Jones Act trade between U.S. ports, the double-hulled ship will be 600.4 feet (183 meters) in length and have a cargo capacity of approximately 331,000 barrels.

General Dynamics NASSCO employs approximately 4,700 people and is the only major ship construction and repair yard on the West Coast of the United States. In addition to the product carrier construction, NASSCO is also building the Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo-ammunition ships for the U.S. Navy. Additional information on NASSCO can be found at www.nassco.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,900 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics NASSCO