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Crowley Maritime Corp. has christened the first of four new product tankers at the Tampa Cruise Terminal.

The 50,000-deadweight-tonne (dwt), 330,000-barrel-capacity ship named Ohio [pictured] is the first tanker ever to receive the American Bureau of Shipping's (ABS's) LNG-Ready Level 1 approval, meaning Crowley has the option to convert the tanker to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion in the future.

Over 100 guests watched on Tuesday, 3rd October, as Pamela Beall, president of MPLX, a Marathon Petroleum Corporation subsidiary, performed the time-honored tradition of christening the vessel by breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne across the hull of the vessel.

"Crowley is proud to welcome this historical vessel into service," said Crowley's Chairman, President and CEO Tom Crowley Jr. "As the first of its kind to officially be LNG-ready, it is a testament to Crowley's promise to seek additional ways to exceed the technological requirements of our petroleum customers while doing our part to reduce environmental emissions."

The Ohio was constructed by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. (APSI), the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA, with construction management services provided by Crowley's Seattle-based, naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary Jensen Maritime. The remaining three product tankers are also being built by APSI for Crowley.

The new tankers are based on a Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) design which incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability and the latest regulatory requirements.

Ohio is 600 feet long and is capable of carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products. The vessel has made two voyages to date carrying clean petroleum products to Florida.