The cranes are a key element of the $130 million Crowley is investing in infrastructure improvements to its Isla Grande Terminal, and their arrival marks the first time new, specialized gantry cranes have been received for operation in the San Juan Harbor in five decades.”With the delivery of these state-of-the-art cranes, we are taking another step toward the transformation of our terminal into the most modern and efficient port facility on the island,” said John Hourihan Jr., Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico services. “No other shipping line’s operation in San Juan will be as modern or efficient as ours with the addition of this brand-new, high-tech equipment. These cranes will help to ensure the terminal operates safely and efficiently, with the fastest discharge times on the island. This is a strong demonstration of our total commitment to the people, infrastructure and future success of Puerto Rico.”
The cranes, which will be offloaded and positioned on the pier over the next several days, each have a capacity of 65 long tons and measure approximately 65 meters tall, with an outreach of 40 meters. They bring the best-possible container-handling technology – including operator-assist modes, laser profiling that targets containers for precision handling, memory settings and truck positioning system – to the Puerto Rico trade, all features that improve safety and maximize container loading and discharge efficiency.
“We went to great lengths to ensure we have cranes optimized to handle our specialized 53-foot container equipment, as well as standard container sizes,” said Jose “Pache” Ayala, vice president of Puerto Rico services. “We are pleased that these cranes will continue to help us meet the unique demands of Puerto Rico shippers, bringing even more speed to meet their needs, while also marking a historic achievement for the island.”
The new cranes were built by Liebherr Container Cranes, part of the Liebherr Group.
In total, Crowley is investing more than $550 million to transform its Puerto Rico shipping services, and details are featured in a new Crowley website. In addition to the cranes, the company on Monday launched El Coqui, the first of two new, liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered, Commitment Class ships being built by VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Miss., under the construction management of by Crowley Marine Solutions, which includes naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary Jensen Maritime.
After several more months of topside work, El Coquí, named for a beloved frog native to the island, is expected to begin service during the second half of 2017, and its sister ship, Taíno, which is named for indigenous people of Puerto Rico, is due to commence service in the first half of 2018. Other improvements include constructing a new 900-foot-long, 114-foot-wide concrete pier and all associated dredging needed to accommodate Crowley’s two new ships; expanding the terminal’s capacity for handling refrigerated containers; paving 15 acres to accommodate container stacking; adding containers to its fleet and container handling equipment; installing a new electrical substation to provide power for the new gantry cranes; constructing a new seven-lane terminal exit gate for increased efficiency; installing hardware required for a new, state-of-the-art terminal operating software system, and more.
“Without a doubt, the arrival of these cranes marks a new stage in the economic development of Puerto Rico through the efforts made in our ports,” said Omar Marrero Diaz, executive director, The Puerto Rico Ports Authority. “We emphasize that with the shipping company’s investments in infrastructure and specialized port equipment, and the Authority’s commitment to collaborate, this and other projects will materialize positively for the benefit of all. We thank Crowley for their initiative and its trust in our new administration. For both the Honorable Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and our work team, it is imperative to create new opportunities that will lead us to be the best that Puerto Rico can be. We all know it is possible.”
The massive investment serves as the next chapter in Crowley’s storied history of shipping and logistics services between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico. Crowley has served the Puerto Rico market from Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan since 1954, longer than any other Jones Act carrier in the trade. The company, with more than 250 Puerto Rico employees, offers more weekly sailings in the market than any other shipping line.

Since 1912 VAHLE has continued to develop innovative new products and solutions for any application worldwide wherever quality and reliability are top priorities therefore, the intermodal project is an excellent example for the companies’ philosophy.

The Mexican container terminal Lázaro Cárdenas Terminal Portuaria de Contenedores is located in North America at the pacific side of Mexico.
VAHLE has awarded the first contract to electrify 10 container blocks of the terminal in 2011.
At this time VAHLE has also supplied 8 automatic systems to ZPMC for new eRTGs.
Up to now, LCT has electrified 26 container blocks with 5.512 m conductor rails and 16 new eRTG from ZPMC. Furthermore, VAHLE has converted 3 conventional RTGs to eRTGs last year as turn-key project and more will follow.

All this projects and experiences result in the idea to electrify the intermodal area (over 500 m) and to operate this also by eRTGs with the VAHLE automatic system. The benefit is to keep the mobile yard cranes flexible. Depending on the daily-business up to 4 eRTGs are suitable to enter the intermodal area to handle container. This area is since 16th March 2017 in full operation by conductor rails.

Furthermore VAHLE’s product range consist of power supply, positioning system, data communication and is upgradeable step by step to open the door for the future demand of automation as for example by allowing remote operation.

Putting the ship into the water on Monday was the first in a series of milestones expected to be achieved this week as part of Crowley’s $550 million project to expand and modernize the company’s shipping and logistics services between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

El Coquí, named after a beloved frog native to the island, will now proceed through the final topside construction and testing phase before beginning service in the U.S. Jones Act trade during the second half of 2017.
“This was a special day for Crowley, VT Halter Marine and all of the men and women who designed, and who are constructing, this world-class ship,” said Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO. “We are extremely appreciative of all the work that has been accomplished so far and look forward to the successful delivery of El Coquí later this year and her sister ship, Taíno, in the first half of next year.”
“The ship launch also marks the beginning of a very momentous week for Crowley and our Commitment Class project,” Crowley said. “We are expecting the arrival of three, new gantry cranes at our new terminal pier in San Juan later this week, and two, 1-million liter cryogenic tanks at our LNG bunkering facility being built at the Port of Jacksonville, Fla. Altogether, these investments epitomize the strong, long-term commitment we have to serving our customers and the people of Puerto Rico with the most modern and efficient supply chain services in the trade.”

El Coquí, like her sister ship Taíno, will be able to transport up to 2,400 twenty-foot-equivalent container units (TEUs) and a mix of nearly 400 cars and larger vehicles in the enclosed, ventilated and weather-tight Ro/Ro decks. A wide range of container sizes and types can be accommodated, ranging from 20-foot standard, to 53-foot by 102-inch-wide, high-capacity units, as well as up to 300 refrigerated containers.

“The launch of the El Coquí is a strong indication of our commitment to the success of our customer Crowley,” said Paul J. Albert, CEO, VT Halter Marine. “Our thanks to both the shipbuilders of VT Halter Marine and the Crowley project team for all their hard work in delivering such a significant vessel. This is a great accomplishment for both teams; we very much appreciate this opportunity to build such a magnificent ship for such a great company.”

Construction of both El Coquí and Taíno, the latter named for an indigenous people of Puerto Rico, is being managed in the shipyard by Crowley Marine Solutions, which includes naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary Jensen Maritime.
“The new ships and related improvements in Puerto Rico and Jacksonville will add speed and efficiency for our customers shipping goods between the mainland and the island,” said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico services. “The environmentally friendly ships will replace tugs and triple-deck Roll-on/Roll-off barges currently sailing between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico.”

Fueling the ships with LNG will reduce emissions significantly, including a 100-percent reduction in sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM); a 92-percent reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx); and a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) of more than 35 percent per container, compared with current fossil fuels.

Hourihan also noted the importance of the Jones Act as it relates to Crowley’s $550 million overall investment in the trade, saying “the improvements we are making would not have been possible without the Act.”
The U.S. Jones Act requires vessels in domestic waterborne trades to be owned by American citizens, built in the U.S. and crewed by U.S. mariners, thereby supporting investment in maritime infrastructure and more than 500,000 jobs and $100 billion a year in annual economic output.

The other project milestones expected to be reached soon include:
In San Juan, Crowley is scheduled to receive three new, ship-to-shore gantry cranes, manufactured by Liebherr Container Cranes, in Ireland, as early as Wednesday at the company’s Isla Grande Terminal. The cranes, which will be offloaded onto Crowley’s new 900-foot-long pier over several days, will be the first new, specialized gantry cranes to be received for operation in San Juan Harbor in more than five decades.
In Jacksonville, two 260-ton, cryogenic LNG tanks, constructed by Chart Industries in Europe, are expected to arrive at Crowley’s leased property at JAXPORT’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal within a week. The facility, scheduled for completion this summer, will be adjacent to Crowley’s operating terminal and will serve as the fueling station for the LNG-powered ships.

In addition to the ships, cranes and tanks, Crowley’s $550 million investment includes a new 900-foot-long, 114-foot-wide concrete pier at Isla Grande and associated dredging needed to accommodate the two new ships; expanding terminal capacity for handling refrigerated containers; paving 15 acres to accommodate container stacking; adding containers and associated handling equipment to its fleet; installing a new electrical substation to provide power for the new gantry cranes; constructing a new seven-lane exit gate for increased efficiency; installing hardware required for a new, state-of-the-art terminal operating software system, and more.

“The ships, terminal and bunkering facility represent next-generation technology built for high performance and dependable service for our customers,” said Crowley’s Tucker Gilliam, vice president, special projects.
Crowley has served the Puerto Rico market from the 85-acre Isla Grande Terminal since 1954, longer than any other Jones Act carrier in the trade.

The company, with more than 250 Puerto Rico employees, offers more weekly sailings in the market than any other shipping line.