US-headquartered maritime and logistics firm Crowley’s new LNG-powered containership Quetzal is now sailing on routes across the US, central America and Dominican Republic.
With capacity for up to 1,400 20-foot container equivalent units (TEUs), Quetzal and its three forthcoming sister Avance Class ships will provide more cargo capacity while using LNG for fuel, which overall is better than diesel in environmental impact.
Crowley’s Avance Class ships feature high-pressure ME-GI engines by MAN Energy Solutions, which reduce methane slippage to “negligible levels”.
Burning LNG lowers vessel greenhouse gas emissions, such as sulphur oxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, compared with conventional diesel fuel – although LNG’s primary component, methane, is a potent greenhouse gas and leaks throughout the production and supply chain negate some of its benefit versus diesel.
There are currently 642 LNG-powered vessels in operation worldwide, according to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insights (AFI) platform, with 169 ships delivered in 2024, and 264 new orders placed.
Crowley recently enhanced the resilience of its Isla Grande logistics terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with the installation of a microgrid fuelled by LNG. It is scheduled for completion in early 2026.
The energy system will provide a reliable power supply tailored to support the terminal’s daily operations, such as powering its terminal equipment, refrigerated containers, and administrative and maintenance facilities.
The microgrid will produce power that is more reliable, less expensive and cleaner than power generally delivered from the public grid.
Source: AD Ports Group
In the UAE, meanwhile, AD Ports Group recently hosted its first ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunkering operation at its deepwater Khalifa Port.
The STS bunkering was part of a simultaneous operation in which the container vessel MSC Thais, berthed at Abu Dhabi Terminals, received LNG fuel from the dedicated LNG bunker vessel Green Zeebrugge, supplied by marine fuels provider Monjasa.
The operation demonstrated the concurrent transfer of LNG and cargo, in addition to highlighting AD Ports Group’s ability to integrate services into its port infrastructure and operations, while delivering lower carbon fuels.
AD Ports Group and Monjasa will continue expanding LNG bunkering services across the group’s commercial ports in Abu Dhabi, including cruise vessels at Zayed Port.
