Posts Categorized: Caribbean News
Tropical Shipping to Update Fleet With Six New Vessels
July 5, 2016
Tropical signs order for six new vessels from Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard
Palm Beach, FL.—In early June, executives from Tropical Shipping traveled to Guangzhou, China to sign an order for six new vessels; the order represents close to $150 million dollars in fleet reinvestment and commitment to the Caribbean market. On order from Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard are two Carib class vessels, two Mini Express class vessels and two additional Carib class option vessels.
“The objective of Tropical’s new build program is to provide for continued future market leadership and profitability by having the right size ships with the right operating characteristics for our marketplace,” said Tropical Shipping’s Executive Chairman Rick Murrell. “Essential operating characteristics such as optimal refrigerated capacity will ensure that Tropical Shipping can meet future customer needs and changing market demands with its differentiated service.”
Carib class vessels are similar to Tropical’s Tropic Carib and Tropic Unity, which entered into service in 2002. The new1,100 TEU vessels feature a service speed of 20 knots and are equipped with, 2 cranes, 260 reefer plugs, hi-cubes below deck, and bow and stern thrusters that will minimize the need for tugs.
Two new Carib class vessels will replace two chartered vessels, greatly improving service time from Saint John, Canada and Palm Beach, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Two additional vessels on option would replace the Tropic Sun and Tropic Tide currently deployed in the St. Thomas Leeward Trade, as they are operating at 100% capacity. The Sun and Tide would then be redeployed to the Nassau and Cayman services.
Mini Express class vessels are similar to the Tropic Express, which entered service in 2011. The two 300 TEU vessels are equipped with 2 cranes, a ramp for roll-on roll-off cargo, 60 reefer plugs, and bow and stern thrusters. The Mini Express vessels are able to serve shallow draft ports such as Providenciales, and will replace two Night class vessels currently deployed in the Marsh Harbour–Turks and Caicos–Dominican Republic service.
“Tropical Shipping has been and continues to be the leader in ocean transportation to the Caribbean. Tropical develops and maintains outstanding relationships with our customers and provides them unmatched on time reliability and fast, purpose built, versatile ships. Our vessels are first to market with our customers’ freight,” said Murrell.
The $150 million dollar investment includes all six ships, as well as $5 million for additional equipment such as containers, chassis and gensets to support the added capacity.
Foss Maritime Center provides 24/7 service, enhancing safety and shoreside services to Saltchuk companies’ maritime fleets
June 7, 2016
Foss expands services to Foss Maritime Center in Portland
Portland, OR. – Foss Maritime has expanded services offered at its Portland terminal and dispatch center, now called the Foss Maritime Center (FMC), to include a 24/7 call center with fleet monitoring and weather service capabilities.
On June 1, the FMC opened to support Foss’ international fleet of tugs and marine assets as well as the maritime fleets of sister companies TOTE Services and Tropical Shipping.
The expansion, the result of a collaboration of Saltchuk companies served by the FMC, included a renovation of Foss’ Portland offices located on the shores of the Columbia River and the addition of staff trained to enhance safety and situational awareness of maritime fleets operating around the globe.
While a vessels’ master remains the final authority on all operational decisions, the FMC Staff are specially trained to use multiple information sources to keep Mariners and those who support them well ahead of potential hazards and provide actionable information to support decision making. Emergency calls to the Call Center will be forwarded to designated points of contact within the companies’ shoreside operations.
“The Foss Maritime Center allows us to standardize and enhance support for the Saltchuk family of companies,” said Foss Maritime President & CEO Paul Stevens. “We’re taking state of the art technology and pairing it with our own experienced and dedicated staff – this is a natural extension on Foss’ promise of ‘Always Safe, Always Ready.’”
Features of the Foss Maritime Center include:
- 24/7 Watch Stander – Call Center staffed by professional mariners. The call center will have the ability to immediately see the vessels location, its route, and the prevailing weather conditions.
- Fleet Monitoring to collect information through automated situational alerting and Watch Stander observation.
- Weather Monitoring will be provided by enhanced weather tools for information, monitoring and rerouting support.
TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico Successfully Performs First LNG Bunkering at Jacksonville Port
January 12, 2016
First LNG bunkering at Jacksonville Port a success
Jacksonville, FL. – On Saturday, January 9, 2016, TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico successfully loaded LNG bunkers aboard the world’s first LNG powered containership, MV Isla Bella. Approximately 100,000 LNG gallons transported by 12 TOTE-owned LNG ISO containers were loaded on schedule. The bunkering was conducted under strict US Coast Guard oversight while Isla Bella was also undergoing cargo operations.
The LNG was transferred from the ISO tank containers using a specially developed transfer skid developed by TOTE’s partner Applied Cryogenics Technologies (ACT) of Houston, Texas. The transfer skid is designed to allow four ISO tanks to be transferred to Isla Bella at once, dramatically reducing transfer time.
The LNG was sourced by TOTE’s partner, JAX LNG, LLC, from AGL Resources’ LNG production facility in Macon, Georgia. Genox Transportation, a specialized LNG trucking partner of TOTE, transported the fuel to Jacksonville. Pivotal LNG, a subsidiary of AGL Resources, also provided transfer expertise to TOTE Maritime with its highly trained LNG experts, ensured the operation was conducted safely and in accordance with best industry practices.
Oversight of the operation both at shipside and on shore was provided by TOTE Services, Inc. (TSI), TOTE Maritime’s sister company that manages the vessels.
“We are very pleased with the results of this initial LNG bunker event and know that the use of LNG in our Marlin Class vessels will provide unprecedented environmental benefits both here in Jacksonville and in Puerto Rico,” said Tim Nolan, President of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico. “We are indebted to USCG Sector Jacksonville for their diligent oversight and assistance that was invaluable and helped make this event a success. Our partners ACT, Pivotal LNG and Genox were also major components of our success. Our sister company, TSI, has developed significant expertise in LNG as a Maritime fuel and ensures that our vessels operate safely and efficiently using this environmentally superior fuel.”
Applied Cryo Technologies, Inc. (ACT) is the premier equipment supplier for cryogenics in North America. ACT is proud to be the first to market with this type of bunkering equipment for the marine industry. Leveraging ACT’s innovative style and unrivaled experience in LNG equipment is sure to bring success to any LNG fueling project.
Pivotal LNG brings liquefied natural gas to companies and industries throughout the United States through reliable, flexible and cost-effective solutions.
TOTE Maritime provides safe, reliable transportation at the fastest speed possible for the Puerto Rican and related Caribbean trades.
Tropical Shipping and CDEMA Sign MOU
December 8, 2015
Tropical Shipping and the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency, CDEMA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance disaster response in the region. The signing took place at the 9th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management at Melia Nassau Beach Resort, November 30 to December 4, 2015.
CDEMA and Tropical Shipping established a mutual agreement to coordinate activities to enhance disaster preparedness and response in the region
NASSAU, The Bahamas – A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Tropical Shipping and the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency, CDEMA, to enhance disaster response in the region.
The first of such agreement was entered into at the 9th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, November 30 to December 4, 2015.
“Tropical for the last 25 years has been committed to assisting the communities in our service area recover from disasters. The signing of the MOU with CEDEMA confirms Tropical Shipping’s continued commitment to building community resilience to disasters throughout the Caribbean,” said Rick Murrell, Chief Executive Officer.
Tropical Shipping and CDEMA have collaborated informally in disaster response for ensuring the transportation of relief supplies to affected countries.
On December 3, through the signing of this MOU, CDEMA and Tropical Shipping established a mutual agreement to coordinate activities wherever possible, to enhance disaster preparedness and response in the region.
“I am pleased that we have with us today Mr. Rick Murrell, Chief Executive Officer of Tropical Shipping for the signing ceremony of the first Memorandum of Understanding between CDEMA and Tropical Shipping,” said Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of CDEMA.
Tropical Shipping considers itself to be a Caribbean company, as it has been providing freighting services throughout The Bahamas and the region for many years. This company has shown its commitment to disaster management through its support for disaster preparedness and response.
“As we know, the Caribbean countries are vulnerable to a wide range of hazards, particularly those of hydro meteorological origin,” Mr. Jackson said.
He noted that CDEMA, though mandate was officially expanded in 2009 from disaster response to promoting loss reduction in the region, and is responsible for providing an immediate and coordinated response by means of emergency relief to any affected Participating State that requests such assistance after being affected by an emergency.
Tropical Shipping and CDEMA have collaborated informally in disaster response for ensuring the transportation of relief supplies to affected countries.
“CDEMA is pleased to formalize this relationship with Tropical Shipping and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership for the benefit of our region,” Mr. Jackson said.
By Lindsay Thompson
Bahamas Information Services
(BIS Photo/Lindsay Thompson)
General Dynamics NASSCO delivers world’s first LNG-powered containership, the Isla Bella, to TOTE
October 16, 2015
Fueled by liquefied natural gas, the containership will be the cleanest cargo-carrying ship in world.
TOTE 1 at Sea Trials in August 2015
SAN DIEGO, CA. – Today, General Dynamics NASSCO delivered the world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containership, the Isla Bella, to TOTE Maritime. The ship was delivered nearly two months ahead of schedule. NASSCO is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
As part of a two-ship contract signed in December 2012 with TOTE, the 764-foot long Marlin Class containerships will be the largest dry cargo ships powered by LNG, making them the cleanest cargo-carrying ships anywhere in the world. This groundbreaking green ship technology will dramatically decrease emissions and increase fuel efficiency when compared to conventionally-powered ships, the equivalent of removing 15,700 automobiles from the road.
“Successfully building and delivering the world’s first LNG-powered containership here in the United States for coastwise service demonstrates that commercial shipbuilders, and owners and operators, are leading the world in the introduction of cutting-edge, green technology in support of the Jones Act,” said Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics NASSCO.
The delivery of this historic ship, also demonstrates successful collaboration between industry and regulatory bodies. TOTE, NASSCO, the American Bureau of Shipping, and the U.S. Coast Guard worked hand-in-hand from the beginning of the project to the delivery of the Isla Bella. This included collaboration during the design approval, construction and commissioning the ship to safely and effectively operate on natural gas.
Emissions Reductions compared to Current vessels in the Puerto Rico Trade
The Jones Act-qualified ships will operate between Jacksonville, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
As a complement to its government new construction business segment, NASSCO maintains an extensive history of commercial shipbuilding. In the past decade, NASSCO delivered eleven commercial ships and currently has ten commercial ships in its backlog, including the two Marlin Class containerships for TOTE.
For its commercial work, NASSCO partners with South Korean shipbuilding power, DSME, for access to state-of-the-art ship design and shipbuilding technologies.
NASSCO specializes in the design and construction of auxiliary and support ships for the U.S. Navy and oil tankers and dry cargo carriers for commercial markets. It is also a major provider of repair services for the Navy, with capabilities in San Diego, California; Norfolk, Virginia; Bremerton, Washington; and Mayport, Florida. Its San Diego location remains the only major shipyard on the West Coast of the United States conducting new construction and repair.
For more information, visit www.nassco.com.
More information about General Dynamics can be found at www.generaldynamics.com.