Crowley christens third LNG-ready Jones Act tanker

Carrie Templin, wife of Marathon executive vice president Don Templin, carried out the time-honored bottle break

MAY 6, 2016 — Crowley Maritime Corporation yesterday christened the third of four new, Jones Act product tankers on Thursday at the Julia Street Cruise Terminal in New Orleans.

The 50,000 dwt, 330,000-barrel-capacity Louisiana joins two Crowley sister ships, Texas and Ohio, as the first tankers ever to receive ABS LNG-Ready Level 1 approval, giving Crowley the option to convert the tanker to liquefied natural gas fueling in the future.

The fourth ship in the program is under construction with delivery planned for third quarter 2016.
Attendees representing Marathon Petroleum Corporation, the vessel’s charterer, and shipbuilder Philly Shipyard Inc., watched as Carrie Templin, wife of Marathon executive vice president Don Templin, carried out the time-honored tradition of christening the ship by breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne across the hull.

“This is a great day of celebration for Crowley, Marathon, Philly Shipyard and all the people who had a role in bringing this great ship to life,” said Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO. “We also celebrate the men and women seafarers who will be counted on to operate her safely and reliably for our customer, Marathon. There is nothing more important.”

The new 600 ft tankers are based on a proven Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) design that incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability, and meets the latest regulatory requirements.Like its sister ships, Louisiana is capable of carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products, as well as other chemical products.

Construction management services at the shipyard were provided by Crowley’s marine solutions group, which provides oversight and management in shipyards across the country for Crowley and other third-party companies.

“The christening underscores our continued commitment to building and operating innovative vessels that deliver the best possible service and efficiency for our customers who depend on us for safe and reliable transportation of petroleum products,” said Crowley’s Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager, petroleum services. “And, as is the case with its sister ships, we designed and built the Louisiana to have the capability to be converted to LNG propulsion in the future, increasing the likelihood of a long service life as new emissions regulations are developed in the years ahead.”