Crowley Maritime Corp. christened the U.S.-flag combination container/roll on-roll off (ConRo) ship MV Taíno today in San Juan, where the company’s investments have ushered in a new era of world-class supply chain services in the U.S. mainland-Puerto Rico trade.   

Clara Crowley, daughter of Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley and board member Christine Crowley, served as the ship’s sponsor and broke the ceremonial bottle of champagne on the bow of MV Taíno at the company’s Isla Grande Terminal before several hundred employees, customers and dignitaries. It was the first time a container ship had been christened in San Juan in recent memory.  

 “We are thrilled to christen this magnificent new ship here with our employees, customers and people of Puerto Rico, whom she will serve for many years to come,” said Tom Crowley. “Taíno is a source of pride for us all and in particular the men and women who built and/or crew her, many of whom are Puerto Rican.” 

It’s no secret that Crowley is making infrastructure improvements to its Isla Grande Terminal as part of a $550 million investment in the company’s Puerto Rico services. Of importance are three ship-to-shore container cranes, which will be used to load and unload containerized cargo carried aboard Crowley’s two new, Commitment Class combination container/Roll-On Roll-Off (ConRo) ships, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The 65-meters tall Liebherr container cranes are some of the most technically advanced, ship-to-shore gantries in operation nearly anywhere today. 

What still may be a secret to you, however, is how Crowley can offer maximum container loading and unloading efficiency, while turning cargo for customers faster than other carriers. The reason is due in large part to these nine smart innovations Crowley is incorporating in the terminal upgrades:

Photo: The first Crowley container is lifted by new cranes from the barge.
In late June, Crowley celebrated the arrival of the first vessel to call at its newly constructed pier at Isla Grande in Puerto Rico – the Crowley-towed container barge 455-4. The occasion allowed Crowley to put its three new container cranes and equipment to work for the very first time, and both operators and cranes performed well.

Specialized Cranes Are First of Their Kind in Five Decades

The three new, ship-to-shore cranes that were constructed in Ireland were delivered to Crowley Puerto Rico Services’ Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan on Wednesday, marking a historic milestone, which was captured on video, for the company and island. The cranes are a key element of the $130 million Crowley is investing in infrastructure improvements to its Isla Grande Terminal, and their arrival marks the first time new, specialized gantry cranes have been received for operation in the San Juan Harbor in five decades.