Aker progressing on 9th ship in Phila.

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, the South Philadelphia commercial shipbuilder that began operations in 2000, this week began final outfitting of its ninth ship, scheduled for delivery in September.

The fifth in the current series of 12 double-hulled tankers, it is the yard's first ship equipped with clean diesel engines that comply with Environmental Protection Agency Tier II requirements.

The ship floated for the first time Friday and was towed from the big dry dock, where final assembly took place, to a nearby berth.

Four ships are now in various stages of construction at the yard on the site of the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. All are part of a 12-ship billion-dollar deal signed in 2005, under which Aker American Shipping, an affiliated company, will buy the ships and lease them to Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. of New York. OSG charters them to oil companies.