Jensen Maritime to Manage Construction of 4 New Jones Act Tankers

Photo: Jensen Maritime's Ray Martus with his wife Trish Martus, who was the vessel sponsor during the Christening of Crowley's ocean class tugboat,Ocean Wind, in 2012. 

Jensen Maritime Consultants, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company, announced that the company has been awarded a new construction management contract for four new 330,000-barrel, Jones Act product tankers, being built by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. (APSI), for Crowley. With construction scheduled to begin in January, Jensen is already establishing on-site offices and personnel at the Philadelphia shipyard to ensure strong working relationships with Aker staff and a seamless construction and delivery program. Delivery of the new veteran class tankers is expected in 2015 and 2016.

The project is the second major construction management project that Jensen has signed since it officially announced the launch of its new, in-house construction management program. The team first managed the construction of two new fireboats for the Port of Long Beach. But long before the program was formally established, Jensen construction management professionals were already at work managing multiple high-profile projects, including the construction and deliveries of all four Crowley high-bollard-pull ocean class tugboats and 17 articulated tug-barges (ATBs).

Given the growth in Jensen’s construction management business, the company has promoted Ray Martus to vice president of construction management reporting to Jensen Vice President Johan Sperling. Most recently Martus was director, new construction, for Jensen. In his new role, Martus will oversee Jensen’s construction management division, which brings together the unique skills of both Crowley and Jensen throughout the entire lifecycle of design and construction. He will remain domiciled in Jacksonville.

“The talent that Ray brings to this position is incredible,” explained Sperling. “Customers who engage Jensen for construction management services gain not only project oversight, but also our decades of shipyard knowledge – brought primarily by Ray and his team. These consultation services, now fully under his supervision, ensure that a vessel is built to a customer’s specifications while controlling the cost and the schedule. Jensen is one of the few naval architecture and marine engineering firms that can bridge the gap between the client and shipyard. The resulting effect is higher efficiency and more satisfactory results for all involved.”

Martus joined Crowley in 2008 as director of new construction and transitioned to the Jensen construction management division in 2012. Before joining the company, he brought 20 years of combined shipboard and shoreside experience in marine engineering, ship operations, project and financial management and new vessel construction. Previously he worked for Carnival Cruise Lines as director of technical operations and director of shipbuilding. He also served Royal Caribbean International as marine superintendent and as a technical manager and engineer. Martus sailed aboard various American-flagged deep-sea merchant vessels – RO/RO, tankers, containerships and the like – and even sailed aboard Crowley’s Senator and Sea Wolf. Martus has an unlimited Chief Engineer’s license, a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering from the US Merchant Marine Academy and a master’s degree (MBA) from the University of Florida.

Martus’ appointment is yet another step in Jensen’s transformation to a full-service, world-class firm.

“We have become a true full-service engineering and construction management company,” said Sperling. “Our clients have the option of having Jensen design, manage construction and deliver their vessels, or they can purchase any one of our services independently. The addition of construction management, electrical engineering and production engineering services in 2012 allowed Jensen to offer every service needed to get a vessel delivered to any customer in need of virtually any type of commercial craft. Very few naval architecture and marine engineering firms can claim this. We are proud of this fact and know that our success is due in part to it.” 

The growing construction management team also includes Jonathan Smith, who in August transitioned to Jensen from Crowley as director, new construction. Smith brings 35 years of vessel operations and delivery experience to the team, further enhancing Jensen’s position as a leader in the field of integrated naval architecture, marine engineering and construction management. Patrick Sperry, manager, new construction; Nick Loeffler, on-site construction manager, and Cole Van Gundy, on-site construction manager, will continue reporting to Martus.

The Jensen team approach ensures quality for each construction project managed, because staff is relocated to the shipyard city, enabling the team members to be fully engaged and embedded in their respective jobs.