Crowley’s LNG-Fueled MV Taíno Completes Maiden Voyage to Puerto Rico

Photo: Crowley Maritime Corp.

The second of Crowley Maritime Corp.’s new LNG-powered combination container/roll-on roll-off vessels has just completed its maiden voyage to Puerto Rico.

The ship, named Taíno, arrived at Crowley’s terminal in San Juan on Friday morning after departing on Jan. 8 from its mainland homeport of Jacksonville, Florida.

Taíno is the second of two so-called “ConRo” vessels constructed for Crowley. Sister ship MV El Coquí began its first-in-class service in July 2018.

The ships, which were built specifically for the Puerto Rico trade, are 219.5 meters (720 feet), 26,500 deadweight tons (DWT), and can transport up to 2,400 twenty-foot-equivalent container units (TEUs) at a cruising speed of more than 22 knots. The ships carry a wide range of cargo types and sizes, including: 53-foot by 102-inch-wide, high-capacity containers; up to 300 refrigerated containers; and 400 cars and larger vehicles in the enclosed and ventilated vehicle garages that are unique to the trade.

Crowley says the successful transit puts a historic capstone on the company’s Commitment Class modernization project and begins a new era of world-class supply chain services between the island commonwealth, U.S. mainland and the Caribbean Basin.

Modernizations by Crowley include the Commitment class vessels along with investments at Crowley’s Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan, including three new shore gantry cranes, the first to be delivered in Puerto Rico in 50 years; a new 900-foot pier; container handling equipment; and efficiency improvements. Further, Crowley has implemented a new terminal operating system (TOS) that helps reduces gate turn times for trucking partners, which helps with cargo velocity. Additionally, a proprietary feeder service has been launched linking Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic and other islands of the Caribbean Basin.

At JAXPORT, a new shoreside LNG fuel depot operated by Eagle LNG Partners supplies the Commitment class ships with cleaner burning LNG fuel.

“The successful maiden voyage of MV Taíno showcases Crowley’s unmatched ability to provide industry-leading speed and reliability for customers as part of our end-to-end supply chain solutions in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the islands of the Caribbean Basin,” said Steve Collar, senior vice president and general manager, Crowley Logistics. “This milestone is a credit to the men and women whose dedication to building and operating the ships and terminals made success a reality. And, it showcases Crowley’s continuing and lasting commitment to serving Puerto Rico.”

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