Page 56: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2015)

VESSELS

LNG Containership Perla del Caribe Launched

Late last month TOTE and NASSCO launched Perla del Caribe, the second of two Marlin Class ships, the ? rst con- tainerships in the world to be powered by natural gas. These ships have received no lack of coverage in trade and consumer press globally, and for good reason. The 764-ft. Perla del Caribe and sister ship

Isla Bella, are Jones Act vessels built for the Puerto Rican trade for TOTE Shi- pholdings, to be operated by TOTE sub- sidiary Sea Star Line out of Jacksonville,

Fla.

According to NASSCO, the vessels’ green ship technology, designed by

NASSCO and its partners, will decrease emissions while increasing fuel ef? cien- cy when compared to conventionally- powered ships. By moving to natural gas, the ships will reduce NOx emissions by 98 percent, SOx by 97 percent, carbon di- oxide by 72 and particulate matter by 60 percent over the Ponce Class ships, the company’s vessels currently serving the trade, TOTE said.

“The ability to innovate and lead in the maritime sector is something that comes along once in a lifetime,” said Tim Nolan,

President of Sea Star Line. “These ships and the technology they employ will re- de? ne what is possible in the shipping in- dustry both here in the United States and abroad.”

Ordered in December 2012 as part of a two-ship contract between TOTE and

NASSCO, Perla del Caribe will enter ser- vice in the ? rst quarter of 2016 between

Jacksonville, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto

Rico. The Isla Bella, the ? rst Marlin

Class vessel, was launched in April of 2015 and will enter service later this year.

“The Marlin Class ships are the most fuel ef? cient, eco-friendly containerships in the world. As the ? rst of their kind, these ships represent the next generation of US-built ships and we at General Dy- namics NASSCO are proud to be leading

The ship’s sponsor Emma in that effort,” said Fred Harris, president

Engle christens the Perla of General Dynamics NASSCO. Emma del Caribe, the second of

Engle, the daughter of Tim Engle and two LNG-fueled Marlin Class third generation of Saltchuk ownership, ships built by General Dy- namics NASSCO for Tote. is the ship’s sponsor and had the honor

The LNG-fueled Marlin Clss of christening and launching the vessel. ships will reduce NOx emis-

Alcinda Buirds, a 32-year NASSCO em- sions by 98 percent, SOx by ployee, pulled the trigger to release the 97 percent, carbon dioxide ship into the San Diego Bay.

by 72 and particulate mat-

A video of the launch can be ter by 60 percent compared viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/ to TOTE’s Ponce Class ships.

watch?v=DEje7KWlg2c (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO) 56 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • SEPTEMBER 2015

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