Jim Wagstaff News

Sea Star Line, LLC and Applied Cryo Technologies (ACT), in cooperation with Dragon Products, have finalized plans for the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering system that will supply Sea Star Line’s new ships. Sea Star Line and its parent company TOTE are building the world’s first LNG-powered containerships that will begin serving the Puerto Rican market later this year. The LNG bunkering system is a critical part of the LNG supply chain for the Marlin Class ships. The system is comprised of 25 cryogenic IMO tanks that will transport LNG from Georgia to Jacksonville. In addition, ACT will ensure that the new ships can be fueled safely and effectively in under six hours, enabling Sea Star Line to maintain its on-time commitment to the people of Puerto Rico.

Sea Star Line informs that as part of its long term program related to chassis utilization, commencing Monday, June 2, 2014, it will introduce a new chassis program for shipments moving to and from the Southeast United States. From the above date, Sea Star Line will no longer provide chassis, having partnered with Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc. to provide shippers, consignees, or their agents (motor carriers) with chassis directly. “The decision was made to expand the chassis program because it supports our service commitment to the trade, while positioning us for the future.” stated Jim Wagstaff, vice president of operations for Sea Star Line, LLC.

On April 2, 2014, Sea Star Line’s vessel El Faro and its employees participated in a joint training exercise at North Florida shipyards. The training exercise focused on evaluating agency procedures, communication plans and training programs to assure all agencies can respond in the most efficient way to emergency events and to mitigate risks and damage. “The mock training exercise was an excellent opportunity to participate in and ensure that our local emergency agencies are prepared for emergency response events,” stated Jim Wagstaff, vice president of operations for Sea Star Line, LLC.

While in transit from Jacksonville, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the crew of Sea Star Line’s El Morro vessel received distress calls from a small fishing vessel in the Atlantic Ocean. The fishing vessel was attempting to hail the U.S. Coast Guard’s Jacksonville Sector with no success due to a weak transmission signal. The crew of El Morro intercepted the communications from the fishing vessel and began relaying information to the U.S Coast Guard in Jacksonville. The U.S.

Sea Star Line, LLC said that it has increased its refrigerated container fleet by 25% in the past year to better serve the Puerto Rico trade. Sea Star is also in year two of a five year refrigerated equipment replacement plan. The replacement plan aims to reduce the average age of the entire Sea Star Line refrigerated container fleet to less than three years. Additionally, Sea Star Line recently entered into a five year agreement to acquire new gensets to support the increased reefer fleet. “We must begin transforming our equipment fleet to meet the needs of our customers and in preparation for our new LNG ships entering the Puerto Rico trade at the end of 2015,” said Jim Wagstaff, vice president of operations.