Florida-based shipping company Crowley Maritime Corporation has reached milestones in the construction of two new, combination container and Roll/On-Roll/Off (Commitment Class ConRo) ships which are now taking shape at VT Halter Marine shipyard in Pascagoula.
Namely, the bow of El Coquí was recently set as the shipbuilder finished constructing the full length of the ship, aligned the main engine, and completed other work required to prepare the vessel for launching in early 2017.
The liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks also have also been installed and build-out of the engine room and main engine are underway on sister ship, Taíno.
As part of a USD 500 million investment in the trade between the US mainland and Puerto Rico, the company is building the new vessels that will be powered by LNG. The investment also includes improvements to the company’s terminal in San Juan.
Crowley said that the investment in ships and terminal infrastructure is made possible by the Jones Act, which requires that all goods transported by water between US ports be carried on US-flagged ships constructed in the United States.