The new ship El Coquí entered service for domestic operator Crowley in late July 2018 as one of the world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled combined container and roll-on roll-off (ConRo) vessels.
El Coquí, along with sister ship Taíno currently under construction at shipbuilder VT Halter’s Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard, feature a wide range of state-of-the-art onboard technologies, including advanced integrated bridge systems (IBS), complete with consoles, and ancillary electronic systems from Mackay Communications (dba Mackay Marine).
Mackay Marine said its project integration team worked in concert with Crowley Maritime Corporation and VT Halter Marine’s naval architects and engineers to develop the bridge suite for the two new Commitment Class vessels, specifying the comprehensive communication and navigation electronic equipment package necessary to integrate into 13 system consoles.
From the onset, console units were purposefully designed by Mackay, utilizing CAD systems (Computer Aided Design), to meet Crowley’s specifications and DNV’s NAUT-OC standards. The integrated system was fully outfitted and pre-wired by Mackay’s project department from Houston.
Additional electronics provided by Mackay Marine, include the Public Announcement, CCTV for security and asset tracking, IP Telephone (IPTV) Systems, Sound Powered Phones, LAN (local-area-network), and a UHF Radio System.
El Coquí, which is currently operating on Crowley’s U.S. mainland to Puerto Rico service, will be followed by sister ship, Taíno, currently undergoing final construction and testing in preparation for its entry into service later in 2018.
This new generation of combination-cargo transport vessels accommodates 2,400 twenty-foot-equivalent container units (TEUs) plus a varied portfolio of 400 cars and large vehicles loaded in dedicated weather-tight Ro/Ro decks.
