MARITIME

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 first containerships
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 Shipholdings,
to be operated by TOTE subsidiary
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 efficiency
when compared to conventionallypowered
ships. By moving to natural gas,
the ships will reduce NOx emissions by
98 percent, SOx by 97 percent, carbon dioxide
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 redefine
what is possible in the shipping industry
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 service
in the first quarter of 2016 between
Jacksonville, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto
Rico. The Isla Bella, the first Marlin
Class vessel, was launched in April of
2015 and will enter service later this year.
“The Marlin Class ships are the most
fuel efficient, eco-friendly containerships
in the world. As the first of their kind,
these ships represent the next generation
of US-built ships and we at General Dynamics
NASSCO are proud to be leading
in that effort,” said Fred Harris, president
of General Dynamics NASSCO. Emma
Engle, the daughter of Tim Engle and
third generation of Saltchuk ownership,
is the ship’s sponsor and had the honor
of christening and launching the vessel.
Alcinda Buirds, a 32-year NASSCO employee,
pulled the trigger to release the
ship into the San Diego Bay.
A video of the launch can be
viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=DEje7KWlg2c
The ship’s sponsor Emma
Engle christens the Perla
del Caribe, the second of
two LNG-fueled Marlin Class
ships built by General Dynamics
NASSCO for Tote.
The LNG-fueled Marlin Clss
ships will reduce NOx emissions
by 98 percent, SOx by
97 percent, carbon dioxide
by 72 and particulate matter
by 60 percent compared
to TOTE’s Ponce Class ships.
(Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)
56 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • SEPTEMBER 2015