Military Sealift Command Awards Tanker Charters

The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command has awarded contracts for the time charter of three U.S.-flag tankers that are also enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program.

All three of the tankers are equipped with an Inert Gas System and Segregated Ballast Tanks, are capable of carrying a minimum of 270,000 barrels of clean product, and cover a 90-day period involving work in the Far East and worldwide.

Crowley’s Government Services division, based in Jacksonville, Florida, has been awarded a $9,032,639 firm-fixed-price contract for the time charter of the Stena Impeccable. Crowley has also secured a second contract, this time for the time charter of the Stena Imperative. The contract amount is $8,030,850.

Seabulk Tankers Inc., located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been awarded an $8,280,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the time charter of the Torm Timothy tanker.

All three of the contract are also scheduled to be completed by January 2024 and were competitively procured with multiple offers submitted.

All three of the tankers are participating in the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program, designed to provide added sealift capacity with a fleet of active, commercially-viable, and privately-owned U.S.-flag product tankers available to meet national defense and other Department of Defense requirements. MARAD has so far enrolled nine tankers for the 10-ship program in exchange for an annual stipend up to $6 million for their participation.

Crowley manages three of the enrolled tankers as part to a joint venture with Stena Bulk USA, including Stena Imperative and Stena Impeccable. The Torm Timothy is also one of three Seabulk Tankers vessel enrolled in the program.

All three medium-range tankers, Stena Imperative, Stena Impeccable, and Torm Timothy, had to be reflagged under the U.S. flag. Participation in the Tanker Security Program means they can also be chartered on a short-term basis to support U.S. military operations as needed.

Separately, Crowley has been awarded an $18,400,000 option for the operation and maintenance of six government-owned Maritime Prepositioning Force vessels; USNS Bobo (T-AK 3008), USNS Button (T-AK 3012), USNS Lopez (T-AK 3010), USNS Lummus (T-AK 3011), USNS Stockham (T-AK 3017), and USNS Williams (T-AK 3009). The modification exercises the first of five contract options to extend services with Crowley, allowing the vessels to continue supporting Military Sealift Command’s prepositioning requirements worldwide. The work will be performed at sea and is expected to be completed by September 30, 2027, if all options are exercised.