Working Conditions Aboard the Texas

In a significant advancement for its vessel construction initiative, Crowley Maritime Corporation has officially launched the second of four new product tankers designed for the Jones Act. The christening ceremony took place yesterday at the South Florida Petroleum Terminal (The Public Dock) in Fort Lauderdale. This new tanker, named Texas, boasts a deadweight tonnage of 50,000 and an impressive capacity of 330,000 barrels. Texas joins its sister vessel, Ohio, which was introduced last November. Notably, both ships have achieved the American Bureau of Shipping’s (ABS) LNG-Ready Level 1 certification, paving the way for a future conversion to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion. This innovative step underscores Crowley’s commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency in maritime transportation.

In a significant milestone, Crowley Maritime Corporation has officially received the Texas, the second of four state-of-the-art, Jones Act-compliant product tankers, from Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSINC) on December 30, 2015. This newly minted vessel boasts a capacity of 50,000 deadweight tons (dwt) and can hold up to 330,000 barrels, following the delivery of its sister ship, Ohio, earlier that October. Both Texas and Ohio have earned the American Bureau of Shipping’s (ABS) LNG-Ready Level 1 approval, an innovative accolade that positions them for potential conversion to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion in future operations. The additional two product tankers currently being constructed by PSINC—formerly known as Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc.—are slated for delivery in 2016. Crowley’s Senior Vice President and General Manager for Petroleum and Chemical Transportation, Rob Grune, expressed enthusiasm about the ship's arrival, stating, "We are excited to close out 2015 with the addition of this technologically advanced vessel to our fleet of U.S.-coastwise product tankers. We are committed to enhancing the services we offer our chemical and petroleum clients, and the introduction of vessels like Texas and Ohio underlines our dedication to innovation within the industry, utilizing American-built, Jones Act vessels." Philly Shipyard’s President and CEO, Steinar Nerbovik, echoed this sentiment, stating, "We are proud to deliver another ship to Crowley and the first ship under our new name, Philly Shipyard. The Texas, along with the 21 vessels we've previously delivered, continues our tradition of high-quality shipbuilding in Philadelphia. As we progress with eight ships currently in our backlog, we remain on the lookout for skilled professionals to join our team." The Texas features a design from Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD), optimized for fuel efficiency, flexible cargo options, and compliance with the latest regulatory standards. Measuring 600 feet in length, the vessel is primed for transporting both crude oil and refined petroleum products.