Avondale, Louisiana -- On Monday , September 18, 1995, Avondale Industries, Inc., laid the keel for Avondale Hull Number 2380, the first of four double-hull product/chemical carriers for American Heavy Lift Shipping Company (AHL) of New Orleans, Louisiana. This key event occurred four months after contract signing. Delivery is scheduled for the 3rd Quarter of 1996. When delivered, the ship will be the first Jones Act vessel qualified under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), and the first commercial ship delivered by Avondale since 1984. Attending the ceremonies were representatives from American Heavy Lift, Maritime Administration, American Bureau of Shipping, and Avondale. The keel modules were some of the first modules that were produced in Avondale's new "Factory", a 575,000-square-foot steel processing facility. The facility is part of a $20M modernization effort that was supported by the MARAD Title XI Program. Construction of the new tankers will incorporate the sterns of American Heavy Lift's existing fleet. The existing sterns, which will have extensive enhancements, will be joined to the new forebodies in one of Avondale's floating drydocks. American Heavy Lift, one of the leading tanker operators in the United States, was a recent runner-up for the first William M. Benkert awards. The awards were presented on September 20, 1995, at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D. C. AHL was one of 61 participating organizations. The William M. Benkert Award is the premier national award that recognizes experience in all aspects of marine environmental protection. It was established to recognize outstanding achievements that exceed mere compliance with industrial and regulatory standards. The award is named in honor of Rear Adm. William M. Benkert (1923-1989), a distinguished Coast Guard officer widely known for his leadership and vision in marine environmental protection. Rear Adm. Benkert served as a member of American Heavy Lift's Board of Directors from 1988 to 1989. Avondale Industries, Inc., headquartered in metro New Orleans, is one of the nation's leading marine fabricators. In addition to its shipbuilding operations, the Company specializes in boat construction and is a major repair contractor for commercial and Navy ships. It is also involved in the modular construction of plants and components for a variety of land-based industries.