Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime Corp. has put down a fresh marker for Jones Act shipping by commissioning the first two vessels in a new generation of product tankers designed and prepared for possible future operation on liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel.
The cargo section offers a total loading capacity of 337,000 barrels, or about 54,000m3, and is divided by a centreline bulkhead to create six pairs of cargo tanks. Each of the 12 tank compartments is fitted with a Framo SD200 vertical, centrifugal cargo pump powered by a hydraulic motor. The stainless steel pumps are individually rated at 600m3 per hour, and the system as a whole has a maximum discharge or loading rate of 3,600m3/h. The renowned Norwegian make is now an Alfa Laval brand.
Use of clean-burning LNG as fuel is an attractive option for ensuring compliance with IMO Emission Control Area (ECA) criteria. To date, only the North American ECA, within which the tankers will operate, and the U