JUNE 19, 2013 — Horizon Lines is proposing to replace the steam turbine plants in two 33 year old containerships, the Horizon Spirit and Horizon Reliance, to geared medium speed diesel dual (LNG and liquid) fuel engines. The ships were originally built as LASH carriers,

While Horizon Lines has proclaimed that it "is, and always has been, a very staunch supporter of the Jones Act and all of its requirements," it seems that it is the letter rather than the spirit of those requirements that it supports.

It is planning to convert the two ships in a foreign shipyard and has gotten a determination from the National Vessel Documentation Center that performance of the work outside of the United States "will not result in either Vessel being deemed to have been rebuilt foreign and, consequently, will not adversely affect either Vessels' eligibility to engage in the coastwise trades of the United States."

Thanks to the vigilance of shipbuilding guru Tim Colton, you can access the Coast Guard letter HERE