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WorkBoat of the Year

Each year, the editorial staff of WorkBoat magazine selects 10 Significant Boats that have the chance to be voted WorkBoat of the Year. The selection of Workboat magazine’s Top 10 list is rigorous and thorough, with editorial staff aiming to select at least one vessel from each sector covered by WorkBoat.

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Image: El Coquí, copyright © Crowley Maritime, 2020.

While design and marine engineering also are important criteria for selection, WorkBoat staff emphasize that what makes a vessel significant can be “first of its kind, a successful series built, where it operates and who it serves, or how it helps advance new workboat frontiers like, e.g., wind-energy.”  

The list of workboats reaching the top 10 significant this year comprised two tugs, three passenger/exploration ferries, a pilot boat, a coastal research vessel, an agricultural freighter, a dive and fire rescue vessel and a ConRo (combination container/roll on-roll off) ship.

Crowley Maritime - LNG powered ConRo vessels

The winner of this year ‘WorkBoat of the Year’ was the Crowley Maritime ConRo ships MV El Coquí and MV Taíno, a pair representing the world’s first combination container roll-on/roll-off (ConRo) ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).  
The Taino is specifically designed to support Crowley Maritime’s Puerto Rico trade. The vessel’s capacity is 2,400 20’ equivalent container units (TEU), with RoRo capacity of 400 cars and larger vehicles.

Environmental impact

Fueling ships with LNG reduces emissions significantly. For the both ships, some of the environmental advantages include a 100% reduction in sulphur oxide (SOx), a 92% reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) and a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) of more than 35% per container.

Zenitel and Mackay Marine

Having our equipment onboard trailblazing vessels like the Taíno and El Coquí illustrates how we can deliver efficient, state-of-the-art critical and integrated communication systems. Mackay Marine was selected by the owner, Crowley Maritime Corporation, and VT Halter Marine Inc., the shipbuilder, to design, supply and install advanced integrated bridge systems (IBS), complete with consoles and ancillary electronic systems onboard both the El Coquí and Taíno.

This design employs Zenitel equipment for PAGA systemsIP TelephonyCCTVsound-powered phones, LAN and UHF radio systems. Combining greater transport capacity with fuel efficiency and streamlined integrated bridge electronics will enhance productive and safe transit, saving owners and customers time and money. Zenitel is proud to be a chosen partner by Mackay Marine to deliver critical and integrated onboard communication systems not only for this project, but also for many others.  

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Media Contact Mackay Marine:
Sue Ellen Rosen, Marketing Director
+1 919 850 3014
srosen@mackaycomm.com