Crowley adds 2 new Jones Act tankers

   Crowley Maritime Corp.’s petroleum and chemical transportation group has bought two new Jones Act tankers from Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.
   The tankers, scheduled for delivery in September and March 2013, mark Crowley’s re-entry into the Jones Act tanker market since its last tanker was retired in 2011. The Jones Act, which governs transport in U.S. waterborne trades, requires U.S.-flag built and crewed vessels.
   Crowley said the tankers will be capable of carrying nearly 330,000 barrels of a wide variety of petroleum products and chemicals.
   “This is yet another example of our on-going investments in new equipment and technology to meet the current and future needs of our customers, ” said Crowley’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Crowley, in a statement.
   The vessels are the 13th and 14th in the “Veteran class” built at Aker. With a length of 183.2 meters, a breadth of 32.2 meters, and a depth of 18.8 meters, the tankers come in at 45,800 deadweight tons with a draft of 12.2 meters. The speed of the Pennsylvania and Florida is expected to average 14.5-plus knots.
   As of 2013, Crowley will own and operate 17 articulated tug barges (ATBs), which include 155,000-barrel, 185,000-barrel and 330,000-barrel capacity tank vessels. Crowley has long operated Jones Act tankers and ATBs on the U.S. Gulf, East and West coasts under voyage and time charters for companies in the petroleum and chemical industries.