Crowley Enters LNG-Powered Container Ship into Caribbean Duty

Maritime logistics and transport firm Crowley has put its newly liquified natural gas (LNG)-powered containership Tiscapa into service for moving cargo around the U.S., Caribbrean and Central America.

Tiscapa, like its sister ships in the Avance Class, consists of container capacity for 1,400 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), including 300 refrigerated units. The ship was designed to quickly deliver cargo while using lower emission LNG for fuel, compared to diesel or other refined fossil fuels.

Earlier this year, Crowley began delivering U.S. LNG aboard its American Energy vessel to Puerto Rico. LNG is natural gas chilled to minus 260 Fahrenheit to liquify it, de-compress it and make it stable for shipping.

The latest vessel, Tiscapa, departed from the Port of Jacksonville, Florida, for its commercial voyage serving the Caribbean Basin. After a transition period of service for the region, Tiscapa will start offering regular service between the U.S., Dominican Republic and Central America, presenting direct market connections for goods such as medical devices, household goods, food and perishables.

"The addition of Tiscapa to our fleet marks another milestone in Crowley's commitment to delivering efficient and reliable logistics solutions across the region," said Andrew Davis, vice president of operations for Crowley Logistics. "With its LNG-powered design and expanded capacity for dry and refrigerated goods, Tiscapa enhances our ability to provide faster, dependable service for customers moving essential goods throughout the U.S. and Caribbean Basin."

The operation will be followed by sister ships Quetzal and Copan, which are strategically built to serve El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and the growing trade between the U.S. and Central America. The fourth and final Avance Class ship, Torogoz, which is named for the national bird of El Salvador, is expected to be operational in August 2025.

The U.S. has utilized its historic production of shale gas into becoming the world’s largest current exporter of LNG.