On Friday, General Dynamics subsidiary NASSCO has delivered Isla Bella, the world's first container ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas.

Isla Bella is the first of two 764-foot long Marlin Class container ships contracted by TOTE Maritime. Together, the two vessels will be the largest LNG-powered dry cargo ships in the world.

Officials with NASSCO say the ship's natural gas-powered engine will boost the vessel's fuel efficiency, drastically reducing its emissions— equivalent to taking 15,700 gas-powered cars off the road.

"Successfully building and delivering the world's first LNG-powered container ship here in the United States for coast-wise service demonstrates that commercial shipbuilders, and owners and operators, are leading the world in the introduction of cutting-edge, green technology in support of the Jones Act," Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics NASSCO, said in a press release.

The Jones Act requires that all domestic shipping—shipping from one American port to another— be carried out by American-made and operated ships.

Isla Bella will carry cargo between Jacksonville, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

^{Source: Hays, Brooks. "Isla Bella Is the World's First LNG-powered Container Ship."UPI.com. United Press International, Inc., 16 Oct. 2015. Web. 30 Oct. 2015. http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2015/10/16/Isla-Bella-is-the-worlds-first-LNG-powered-container-ship/7031445023601/.}