Oil Patch Bits: Crowley purchases two new Jones Act tankers

As reported by 4-Traders.com website Aug. 20, Crowley Maritime Corp. petroleum and chemical transportation group said that it has purchased two new Jones Act tankers, the Pennsylvania and the Florida, from Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA. The tankers, scheduled for delivery in September 2012 and March 2013, mark Crowley’s re-entry into the Jones Act tanker market since its last tanker was retired in 2011.

The addition of these new tankers also positions Crowley to now offer an even more diverse fleet of petroleum and chemical transportation vessels to its customers. The tankers will be capable of carrying nearly 330,000 barrels of a wide variety of petroleum products and chemicals. Once delivered, the vessels will operate in the U.S. coastwise trade.

“Crowley is thrilled to partner with Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and to take delivery of these new Jones Act tankers,” said Crowley’s Chairman, President and CEO Tom Crowley. “We are bringing the best available technology to our customers, who understand and appreciate safety and operational excellence. 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.”

The U.S.-flagged vessels are the 13th and 14th in the Veteran Class built at Aker. Powered by the first Tier II large-bore engines, MAN-B&W 6S50MCs, the speed of the Pennsylvania and the Florida is expected to average 14.5-plus knots.