Photos: AMO aboard Perla del Caribe in Jones Act service

The LNG dual-fueled containership Perla del Caribe recently underwent a shipyard period in Freeport, Grand Bahama. The crew spent the previous four months preparing for the shipyard and completed their first special survey and first renewal U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection in a five-month time frame. The ship's crew was able to inspect all of the vessel's tanks and cargo holds, and all critical equipment, while maintaining their weekly Jones Act liner service from Jacksonville, Fla. to San Juan, Puerto Rico. AMO members working aboard the Perla del Caribe in July included Captain Joe Zayac III, Captain Kevin Stith, Second Mate Kruger Donald, Third Mates Liam Gagliano and Jaime Baretty and Chief Mate Russell Horton. With them are ABs Maddie Gilligan, Raul Colon Matos, Antonio Centeno, Jorge Soler and Jonathan Rivera, and Bosun Adrian Surrillo.

The crew of the Perla del Caribe hosted a tour of the state-of-the-art ship for children of the employees of the San Juan terminal in Puerto Rico in August. The community outreach by the crew taught the kids about the maritime industry and its importance to the island and the nation, and the crew also explained the environmental benefits of the LNG-powered containership.

AMO members working aboard the Perla del Caribe in July during its first five-year shipyard drydock included First Assistant Engineer Mike Busque and Chief Engineer Joe Woods.

Captain Kevin Stith is presented with a portrait of the Perla del Caribe by one of the kids who took a tour of the ship in August.

The Perla del Caribe, here loading cargo in San Juan, Puerto Rico in August, is operated by TOTE Services and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.