The following is the text of a news release from Crowley Maritime Corp.:
(TAMPA, Fla.) — Crowley Maritime Corp. christened the first of four new Jones Act product tankers today at the Tampa Cruise Terminal. The 50,000-dwt, 330,000-barrel-capacity ship named Ohio is the first tanker ever 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) propulsion in the future.
Over 100 guests watched as Pamela Beall, president of MPLX, a Marathon Petroleum Corp. subsidiary, performed the time-honored tradition of christening the vessel by breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne across the hull.
“Crowley is proud to welcome this historical vessel into service,” said Crowley's Chairman, President and CEO Tom Crowley Jr. “As the first of its kind to officially be LNG-ready, it is a testament to Crowley’s promise to seek additional ways to exceed the technological requirements of our petroleum customers while doing our part to reduce environmental emissions.”
Ohio was constructed by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc., the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA, with construction management services provided by Crowley’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary Jensen Maritime. The remaining three product tankers are also being built by APSI for Crowley and have planned deliveries through 2016.
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. Ohio is 600 feet long and is capable of carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products. Under direction of Capt. Dan Loewer and chief engineer Donald Routley, the vessel has made two voyages to date carrying clean petroleum products to Florida.
Crowley is one of the largest independent operators of petroleum barges and tankers in the United States. The company owns and operates a diverse fleet of double-hull tank vessels along with an articulated tug-barge (ATB) fleet ranging in size from 155,000 barrels to 330,000 barrels capacity. Additionally, Crowley provides tanker management services for other U.S. companies.
Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found at www.crowley.com.
