(BROWARD COUNTY, Fla.) — Port Everglades last week welcomed its first cargo ship fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Crowley ship Quetzal is one of four newbuild vessels using cleaner fuel that the Florida-based global company plans for trade among the U.S., Central America and the Caribbean Basin.
Several cruise ships fueled with LNG, including Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess and Silversea’s Silver Nova and Silver Ray, already visit Port Everglades. However, this is the first LNG-powered cargo ship to call.
Broward County Commissioners Lamar P. Fisher and Robert McKinzie joined port staff during a dockside plaque presentation to recognize Crowley’s commitment to decarbonization and its trade partnership. This was also Queztal’s first U.S. port call as part of its route between Central America and the U.S.
Quetzal, like the other three forthcoming Avance-class containerships, has a capacity for 1,400 TEUs and 300 refrigerated unit plugs for transporting perishable cargo.
“Over the last year, our port has welcomed several cruise ships that use LNG, and we applaud Crowley’s efforts to reduce its impact when transporting perishables through Florida’s No. 1 port for perishable goods,” said CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris. “It’s clear that our maritime future relies on innovation and continuous evolution.”
Ships using LNG, instead of diesel, can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions such as sulfur oxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide while eliminating particulate matter. According to Crowley, the new class of vessels also have high-pressure ME-GI engines and reduce methane slippage to negligible levels.
– Port Everglades
