Crowley Maritime Corp christened its LNG-powered mix container/roll on-roll off ship El Coqu í at the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday.

El Coqu í is amongst the initial of its kind to be powered by dissolved gas (LNG) and also a secret of Crowley’s supply chain makeover on the united state landmass-Puerto Rico Jones Act profession.

The ship provided its initial freight from Jacksonville, Florida to the Crowley’s Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico on July 20th, beginning its normal delivery solution linking the united state landmass with Puerto Rico.

El Coqu í is 219.5 meters (720 feet), 26,500 deadweight lots (DWT), and also able to move approximately 2,400 twenty-foot-equivalent container systems (TEUs) at a travelling rate of 22 knots. The ship can suit containers in a large range of dimensions and also kinds– consisting of 53-foot by 102-inch-wide, high-capacity containers and also cooled containers. Within the ship is a confined, aerated and also weather-tight Ro/Ro deck that can protectively lug automobiles and also bigger automobiles– a kind of garage used specifically by Crowley in the profession.

The ship is the initial of 2 vessels developed as component of Crowley’s Commitment Class job. Her sibling ship Ta íno remains in the last stages of building and construction and also screening at VT Halter Marine’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where the El Coqu í was likewise developed. The Ta íno is anticipated to be provided later on this year.

More than 350 individuals got on turn over the weekend break to commemorate El Coqu í’s baptism, consisting of White House authorities; united state legislative participants; regional authorities; reps from ship building contractor, VT Halter Marine, and also Eagle LNG signed up with Crowley staff members, vessel staff participants and also various other sector and also union reps.

Crowley’s Christine Crowley, that is a Member of Crowley’s board and also partner of Chairman and also CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Tom Crowley, worked as enroller and also executed the practice of damaging a sparkling wine container over the hull of the 720-foot vessel.

“It’s a culmination of many, many years of hard work, many, many years of transition for this company,” claimed Chairman and also CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Tom Crowley.

“It’s remarkable to see the transition. Whether it’s going from Ro/Ro to Lo/Lo, the LNG fuel, putting a car house on the back of a container ship, you name it, you go through the transition of what we did to build a ship and create a supply chain that nobody else can match. And it’s here today,” included Crowley.

Offering statements at the baptism, Alexander Gray, that is Special Assistant to the President for the Defense Industrial Base, admired the dedication by Crowley and also united state maritime sector to lead a cutting-edge brand-new period of maritime and also supply chain solutions that sustain financial and also nationwide safety and security.

“El Coqui represents not just the $3 billion investment that Crowley has made in this industry in recent years, it really is the future of the maritime industry itself,” Gray claimed. “The vessel is powered by liquefied natural gas … it’s the cleanest fossil fuel available. It will serve as a shining example of the technological innovation that’s going to allow this industry to remain a global leader for decades to come.”

The El Coqui and also Ta íno become part of Crowley’s $550 million financial investment under the Commitment Class innovation, which likewise consists of 3 brand-new gantry cranes; a brand-new 900-foot pier; and also an improved incurable os at the Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan.

In Jacksonville, Crowley companion Eagle LNG built an LNG shelter gas terminal to sustain the brand-new ships that is amongst the initial of its kind, as well.

“Many people may talk about amending the Jones Act or taking it away, but they’re not living on the island,” claimedRep Gonz ález-Col ón. “And they don’t need that supply on a daily basis, on a weekly basis, and have it reliable like we receive it today – and that’s the reason I support the Jones Act.”