Steel Cut On Four Jones Act Tankers for Crowley

Image (c) Crowley Maritime Corp.

The construction of four Jones Act tankers for Crowley Maritime Corporation kicked off this week at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.

Crowley says the first steel was cut during a small ceremony at the shipyard’s fabrication facility on January 6, officially kicking off the construction phase of the project.

Crowley announced the partnership with Aker Philadelphia in August 2013 to build four Jones Act-compliant, 50,000 dwt, 330,000-barrel product tankers, plus options to build another four product tankers. Deliveries are planned through 2016 for the first four tankers at a total contract value of approximately $500 million.

The new 50,000 dwt product tankers, known as the Veteran class, are based on a proven Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) design which incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability, and the latest regulatory requirements. The vessels will be constructed with consideration for the use of LNG for propulsion in the future. HMD and APSI collaborated on the successful construction of 14 product tankers at APSI between 2005 and 2013.

Jensen Maritime Consultants, Crowley’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm, has been awarded the construction management contract.

Crowley will own the vessels and maintain full technical and commercial management, however APSI and Crowley will share in the economics of the operation and chartering of the new vessels.

APSI is also currently constructing two 115,000 dwt crude oil carriers for SeaRiver Maritime, Inc., ExxonMobil Corporation’s U.S. marine affiliate. Both of these crude oil tankers are scheduled for delivery in 2014.

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