U.S.-based shipping company Crowley Maritime Corporation has taken delivery of its first LNG-powered Combination Container Roll-on/Roll off (ConRo) ship from VT Halter Marine.
El Coquí, which is one of the first ConRos in the world, is also the first of two Commitment Class ships being built by Halter Marine for Crowley. The construction of its sister ship Taino is well underway at VT Halter Marine’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and it is scheduled to enter service later this year.
The new Crowley ships, built specifically for the Puerto Rico trade, feature 219.5 meters (720 feet) in length, 26,500 deadweight tons (DWT), and will be able to transport up to 2,400 TEUs at a cruising speed of 22 knots.
El Coquí is scheduled to set sail on its maiden voyage to San Juan later this month from Jacksonville (JAXPORT), its dedicated U.S. mainland port.
“This delivery represents another milestone in our unwavering commitment to Puerto Rico and the Jones Act,” said Tom Crowley, chairman and CEO.
“We have dedicated significant time, effort and more than USD 550 million, which includes these new ships, to transform our Puerto Rico shipping and logistics services to world-class standards. ”
“This is a thrilling time for the U.S. shipbuilding industry, as evolutions in LNG technology are providing a historic opportunity for American yards and the supporting industrial base to design, build and outfit some of the most technically-advanced and environmentally-friendly vessels that are the envy of the world,” said Matthew Paxton, president, Shipbuilders Council of America.
Working with Eagle LNG Partners, the ships will be bunkered from a shoreside fuel depot at JAXPORT.