VT Halter Marine, a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems (VT Systems), has commenced construction on the first of two LNG-powered, combination Container Roll-On/Roll-Off (ConRo) vessels for Crowley following the signing of the contract, which took place in November 2013.
The new ConRo vessel has been designed to maximize the carriage of 102"containers, which offer the most cubic cargo capacity in the trade. The 219.5m x32.3m x10m vessel measures will have an approximate deadweight capacity of 26,500 metric tonnes. Cargo capacity will be approximately 2,400 TEUs (20-foot-equivalent-units), with additional space for nearly 400 vehicles. The main propulsion and auxiliary engines will be fueled with environmentally friendly LNG, setting a new standard for responsible shipping. The vessels will be built at the Pascagoula facility, with deliveries scheduled for mid and late 2017. The ship design is provided by Wartsila Ship Design in conjunction with Crowley subsidiary Jensen Maritime, a leading Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm.
“VT Halter Marine is pleased and excited to announce the first steel plate cut which launches the official start of construction for these new LNG ConRo ships," said Bill Skinner,
CEO, VT Halter Marine. "These vessels signify how important the Jones Act is in keeping Americans employed in the marine industry. We are most grateful for Crowley’s continued confidence in VT Halter Marine.”
