The above photo shows the El Coquí, one of two new LNG-powered container/roll-on roll-off vessels for Crowley Maritime Corp. The vessel was delivered in late June is now operating on the Jones Act trade between Jacksonville, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Built by VT Halter Marine, it is the first vessel of its type to feature LNG-powered propulsion.

The two vessels, known as the Commitment Class, can accommodate 2,400 twenty-foot-equivalent container units (TEUs) plus a varied portfolio of 400 cars and large vehicles loaded in dedicated weather-tight Ro/Ro decks unique to the U.S. mainland-Puerto Rico trade. 

For the navigation and communications systems, Crowley and VT Halter hooked up with Mackay Communications, aka Mackay Marine, for the design, supply, and installation of advanced integrated bridge systems (IBS), complete with consoles, and ancillary electronic systems, on both vessels.

Working with Crowley and VT Halter Marine’s naval architects and engineers, Mackay Marine’s Project Integration team helped develop an efficient state-of-the-art bridge suite, specifying the comprehensive communication and navigation electronic equipment package necessary to integrate into 13 system consoles.

From the onset, console units were purposefully designed by Mackay, utilizing CAD systems (Computer Aided Design), to meet Crowley’s specifications and DNV’s NAUT-OC standards. The integrated system was fully outfitted and pre-wired by Mackay’s Project Department from Houston, Texas.

Additional electronics provided by Mackay Marine, include the Public Announcement, CCTV for security and asset tracking, IP Telephone (IPTV) Systems, Sound Powered Phones, LAN (local-area-network), and a UHF Radio System.

Here’s a look at some of the equipment on board: