On 4 February 2016, as part of the company’s vessel build programme, Crowley Maritime Corp christened the second of four new, Jones Act product tankers at the South Florida Petroleum Terminal (The Public Dock) in Fort Lauderdale.
The 50,000dwt 330,000-barrel-capacity Texas joins sistership Ohio, which was christened by Crowley in November, as the first ever tankers to receive the American Bureau of Shipping’s (ABS) LNG-Ready Level 1 approval, meaning Crowley has the option to convert the tanker to liquefied natural gas (LNG) for propulsion in the future.
A small group including representatives from SeaRiver Maritime, the vessel’s charterer, gathered to watch as Doris Evans, wife of Eric Evans, vice president, planning for Crowley’s petroleum services group, performed the time-honored tradition of christening the vessel by breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne across the hull.
“Crowley welcomes this industry defining, LNG-Ready vessel into service,” said Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager, petroleum services. “Not only will this be a high -performance vessel capable of meeting or exceeding our customers’ petroleum transportation needs within the U.S.-Coastwise trade, it will do so in a way that is more environmentally friendly than those that have come before her.”
Texas was constructed by PSINC (formerly known as Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc.), with construction management services provided by Crowley’s Seattle-based, naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary Jensen Maritime. Two additional product tankers are being built by PSINC for Crowley and have planned deliveries later this year.
The new tankers are based on a proven Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) design which incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability, and the latest regulatory requirements. Texas is 600 feet long and is capable of carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products.
