Page 76: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2015)

SHIPBUILDING “The secret of VTHM’s suc- cess is our ability to harness existing commercial and defense-related project ‘know- how’ and integrate it with emerging technologies.

Our ability to do govern- ment and commercial work in one facility is one of the things that makes

VT Halter a little different.”

Bill Skinner, CEO,

VT Halter Marine the company is more easily able to spot Courtesy of its VT Systems owner- trade lane, replacing the company’s 2,400 TEUs (20-foot equivalent-units), and target high-value talent to add to its ship, VT Halter has a sister company, towed triple-deck barge ? eet in the with additional space for nearly 400 ve- team. ST Marine in Singapore, from which it South Atlantic trade which served the hicles in an enclosed Roll-on/Roll-off can share technologies and technique. trade since the early 1970s. garage.

Long-term Investments “There is a lot of synergies between VT The new Jones Act ships will be named The main propulsion and auxiliary

While Skinner readily admits that it is Halter and ST Marine as it relates to ship El Coquí (ko-kee) and Taíno (tahy-noh), engines will be fueled with LNG from his people which form the cornerstone repair and construction,” said Skinner. and will be built at VT Halter’s Pasca- MAN, and the vessels will be classed by of VT Halter’s success, he knows too goula facility, with deliveries scheduled DNV-GL.

that modern equipment and facilities The Crowley LNG ConRo Ships for mid and late 2017, respectively. The are equally important investments in Recently, the keel for the ? rst of two ship design is provided by Wärtsilä Ship Recent Activity the game to succeed in shipbuilding and lique? ed natural gas (LNG)-powered, Design in conjunction with Crowley VT Halter Marine recently launched repair. To that end, the company has in- combination container – Roll-On/Roll- subsidiary Jensen Maritime. ATB tug Kim M. Bouchard for Boucha- vested more than $120 million over the Off (ConRo) ships for Crowley Mari- “One of the things that’s taken a lot of rd Transportation from its Moss Point last ? ve years – including direct com- time Corp.’s liner services group was challenges out of the project has been the Marine facility. Measuring 150 ft. long, pany investment and grants – that have laid at VT Halter Marine. teamwork with Wärtsilä Ship Design, the 10,000 hp twin screw ATB tug is helped to build the new repair yard and “From our point of view we are fortu- with Crowley’s Jensen Group, as well classed by ABS as A1 Towing Vessel, to out? t all facilities with more ef? cient nate that Crowley gave us the opportu- as our own engineering management,” Dual Mode ATB, USCG Subchapter tools, including: nity to be one of the forerunners in LNG, said Skinner. “We have also worked very M, is equipped with Intercon Coupler • Development of the ship repair which clearly will be a propulsion sys- close with MAN which will provide the Systems, and will pair up with Barge B. facility itself, including the new tem of the future,” said Skinner in neatly complete propulsion package.” No. 270. The barge measures 625 x 91 13,000 ton ? oating drydock; summarizing the importance of this his- The new Commitment-Class ship has x 47 ft. and has a 250,000-barrel capac- • Additional cranes, up to 500 tons; toric, high-pro? le contract to his com- been designed to maximize the carriage ity. Used to transport liquid petroleum, • Transporters capable of moving pany and the industry. “It will provide a of 53-ft., 102-in. wide containers. They the barge is ABS and USCG certi? ed large modules up to 450 tons; and great knowledge base as well as employ- will measure 219.5 x 32.3m with a deep for Jones Act service. VT Halter began • A larger launch way, able to launch ment for the local economy.” draft of 10m, and an approximate dead- construction on this unit in January 2014 vessels up to 750 ft. long with a The Commitment Class ships will weight capacity of 26,500 metric tons. and plans delivery for June 2015, when

Panamax beam. exclusively serve the U.S.-Puerto Rico Cargo capacity will be approximately the unit will enter into Bouchard’s ? eet 76 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • APRIL 2015

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