WorkBoat recognized the 10 Significant Boats of 2019 and named its Boat of the Year at an awards ceremony at the International WorkBoat Show Thursday morning. The 2019 Boat of the Year was the Taíno and El Coquí, combination container roll-on/roll-off (ConRo) ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Owner Crowley Maritime Corp. said the vessels are the world’s first ConRo ships powered by LNG. The two 720'×105'×59', 26,500-dwt Commitment-class vessels were built by VT Halter Marine and designed by Wärtsilä Ship Design and Jensen Maritime. The ships provide fast, reliable and environmentally friendly shipping and logistics services between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico, a route the company has served since 1954. Crowley invested $550 million in the ships and associated port upgrades.
Designed specifically for the Puerto Rico trade, the ships carry up to 2,400 20' equivalent container units (TEUs) at a cruising speed of 22 knots. A range of other container sizes and types can be accommodated, including 53'×8.5' boxes and up to 300 refrigerated containers. Enclosed and ventilated roll-on/roll-off decks accommodate around 400 cars and larger vehicles.
Each ship is powered by a single MAN 8S70ME-GI marine engine, producing 26,160 kW (35,054 hp) at 91 rpm. The single engine connects to a 328"×291", 5-bladed prop to produce a running speed of 22 knots. Fueling the ships with LNG reduces emissions significantly, including a 100% reduction in sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM); a 92% cut in nitrogen oxide (NOx); and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will be cut by more than 35% per container, compared with current fossil fuels, Crowley said.
The 10 Significant Boats of 2019 are:
ANDREW S (100’x38’x17’2″, Z-drive, Subchapter M tug)
Builder: Main Iron Works
Owner: Bisso Towboat Co. Inc.
Designer: Ashraf Degedy, Bisso Towboat Co. Inc., Main Iron Works
BOB AND BETTY BEYSTER (42’x16’x5′ coastal research vessel)
Builder: Armstrong Marine USA
Owner: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego
Designer: Armstrong Marine USA
BRAZOS PILOT (64’x19′, pilot boat)
Builder: Metal Shark
Owner: Brazos Pilots Association
Designer: Metal Shark
CAPTAIN BEN MOORE (63’x21.3′, agricultural freighter)
Builder: Derecktor Shipyards
Owner: Harbor Harvest
Designer: Incat Crowther
DOLPHIN XI (114’x25’x9′, 360-passenger whale watch boat)
Builder: Gulf Craft LLC
Owner: Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch
Designer: Gulf Craft LLC, Incat Crowther
ISLAND REGENT (82’x41’x12′ ATB tug)
Builder: Island Tug and Barge, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders
Owner: Island Tug and Barge
Designer: Robert Allan Ltd.
KAYAK EXPRESS (64’x19′, 72-passenger tour boat)
Builder: Moran Iron Works
Owner: Pictured Rocks Kayaking
Designer: DLBA Naval Architects
PYXIS, LYRA, VELA (142.7x’40’x5.4′, 445-passenger ferry)
Builder: Dakota Creek Industries Inc.
Owner: City of San Francisco, Water Emergency Transportation Authority (operator)
Designer: Advanced Multihull Designs
SFFD M2-38 (38″10″x13’10”, dive and fire rescue vessel)
Builder: Moose Boats
Owner: City of San Francisco
Designer: Moose Boats
TAÍNO, EL COQUÍ (720’x105’x59′, ConRo ship)
Builder: VT Halter Marine
Owner: Crowley Maritime Corp.
Designer: Wärtsilä Ship Design, Jensen Maritime
