Sea Star Line, Boys & Girls Clubs Partner to Name Marlin Class Ships

Posted by Eric Haun April 29, 2015

Paola Dominguez with a rendering of the new Marlin Class ship. The Isla Bella will enter service in the 4th quarter of 2015. (Photo courtesy of Sea Star Line)

In June 2014, Sea Star Line partnered with the 11 clubs of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico in a contest to name the new liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels which will be dedicated to the Puerto Rico trade by TOTE, Sea Star Line’s parent company. The Marlin Class vessels have attracted international attention as the first cargo ships in the world to run on natural gas. In addition to their improved environmental profile, the Marlins will represent a new standard in safety and TOTE’s long-term commitment to the people of Puerto Rico.

The contest reached more than 2,000 children between the ages of six and eighteen on the island. Two winners were selected from hundreds of entries received.

Tim Nolan, President of Sea Star Line, stated, “Sea Star Line is committed to the communities we serve and thought the contest would be a special way to involve the youth of Puerto Rico. The Boys & Girls Clubs contribute to the development of young people. The response from the children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico was incredible.”

Paola Dominguez’s entry, Isla Bella, was selected as the winner for the first vessel launched. Dominguez is affiliated with the Las Margaritas club of the Boys and Girls Clubs. The ship is scheduled to be deployed in October. Isla Bella translates to beautiful island in English and will serve as a reminder of the cultural and economic significance of the ships for future generations.

“The Boys & Girls Clubs are very excited with this partnership that will contribute to the development of our participants and allow them to learn more about the maritime transportation industry and the different opportunities that may exist for them," stated the Eduardo Carrera, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico.

A university scholarship will be presented to Paola Dominguez as well as the second winner to be named in the early fall when the second ship is launched.

Sea Star Line will deploy the two Marlin Class vessels with a capacity of 3,100 TEUs. Each vessel will accommodate 268 refrigerated containers with expansion capabilities to handle up to 350 refrigerated units.