Crowley Maritime Corporation christen its newest US-flag tanker, 'Florida', at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.
More than 100 guests, including Chairman, President and CEO Tom Crowley; friends and employees from Crowley; representatives from the customer, shipyard, and labor along with other industry dignitaries, gathered to celebrate the vessel’s christening, which was performed by Nina Glende Johnsen, the wife of Aker President and CEO Kristian Rokke.
The Florida, which will provide 50 American seagoing and shore-side jobs, will soon be placed into service delivering domestic oil to U.S.-based refineries. The tanker Pennsylvania, which was purchased from Aker and delivered in September, is currently at work in the U.S. Gulf.
These U.S.-flag vessels are the 13th and 14th in the Veteran Class built at Aker. This proven design provides Crowley customers with ABS-classed vessels that have been thoroughly tested and refined for performance and reliability. 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 m.
Powered by the first Tier II large-bore engines, MAN-B&W 6S50MC's, the speed of the Pennsylvania and the Florida is expected to average 14.5+ knots. In addition to being double hulled with segregated ballast systems, safety features also include water and CO2 firefighting systems, as well as a foam water spray system.