Crowley’s new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered container/roll on-roll off ship El Coquí was christened on Saturday October 20 at the JaxPort Cruise Ship Terminal in Florida, USA. This christening marks the official start of service of the LNG-powered vessel.
The ship, one of the world’s first ConRos powered by LNG, is dedicated to the U.S. mainland-Puerto Rico trade, sailing from the JaxPort terminal to Crowley’s Isla Grande terminal in San Juan.
El Coquí is the first of two vessels built as part of Crowley’s Commitment Class project. The vessel has been called the future of modern maritime trade with its cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines and cutting-edge technology
The ship reflects innovation and represents an investment in time, expertise and more than $550 million. It is a cornerstone for the company’s vision, said Tom Crowley, owner, chairman and chief executive officer of the 126-year-old Jacksonville-based company. The company’s ships served Puerto Rico for 60 years.
Constructed by VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, the ship has is 219.5 meters (720 feet) in length and 26,500 deadweight tons (DWT), and is able to transport up to 2,400 twenty-foot-equivalent container units (TEUs) at a cruising speed of 22 knots.