The ships, scheduled for delivery in second and fourth quarter 2017, will replace Crowley’s towed triple-deck barge fleet, which has served the trade continuously since the early 1970s. These new ships, which will be named El Coquí and Taíno, will offer customers fast ocean transit times, while accommodating the company’s diverse equipment selection and cargo handling flexibility.
Powered by LNG, the Crowley ships will set a new standard for environmentally responsible shipping. “We are developing and using best-available technology that allows for improved emissions, advanced ballast water management and alternative fuel selection,” Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO said.
The vessel design has been brought to life by Wärtsilä Ship Design in conjunction with Crowley subsidiary Jensen Maritime. The new double-hulled ConRo ships have been designed to maximize the carriage of 102-inch-wide containers, which offer the most cubic cargo capacity in the trade. The ships will be 219.5 meters long, 32.3 meters wide (beam), have a deep draft of 10 meters, and an approximate deadweight capacity of 26,500 metric tonnes. Cargo capacity will be approximately 2,400 TEUs (20-foot-equivalent-units), with additional space for nearly 400 vehicles. The main propulsion and auxiliary engines will be fueled with LNG.
Jensen will also provide construction management and supervision in the shipyard throughout the building phase.
Source: Crowley Maritime Corporation.
