Crowley’s New ConRo Ships First Cargo to San Juan

Crowley Maritime Corp’s new container/roll on-roll off (ConRo) ship El Coquí has delivered its first cargo from Jacksonville to the company’s Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan.

Crowley said that the delivery marks “a historic milestone” in the company’s transformation of its U.S. mainland-Puerto Rico logistics services.

“Increasing supply chain velocity while reducing customers’ landed costs was the core reason for our USD 550 million investment in this important service,” said Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO, said, adding that the new ship, and its sister vessels, present one of the final steps to making this vision a reality.

El Coquí, one of the world’s first ConRos powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), joined Crowley in the second half of July. The 2,400 TEU unit departed Jacksonville on in the evening hours of July 27 and arrived in San Juan on July 30.

In addition, Crowley has expanded Isla Grande’s terminal capacity for handling refrigerated containers; paved 15 acres to accommodate container stacking; added containers and associated handling equipment to its fleet; installed a new electrical substation to provide power for the new gantry cranes; constructed a new seven-lane exit gate to increase speed and efficiency for trucking partners; and implemented a new, modern terminal operating software system (TOS) to modernize and enhance cargo deliveries and exchanges.