The story went that JASON and the Argonauts in the old days embarked on a journey in search of the Golden Fleece. He did find the treasure and restored his family’s throne, and the ancient tale that sung of the strongest and bravest band of heroes ever assembled in Greek Mythology continued to be embellished each time it was told in the modern times.
Let me tell you about the modern day Jason. Where ships are referred to in the feminine gender, allow me to deviate without hesitation or ambiguity that Jason will be addressed as a He.
Launched as ship number 5 in a fleet of 8, he was not only designed to comply with the most stringent safety and environmental regulatory requirements but fitted with the latest innovative equipment. Maybe not the most sophisticated or state-of-the-art that you come across with in other industries, but where there is an option to fit more, the owners opted to do just that.
Jason is equipped with an efficient Marine Electronic (ME) Engine. You’ve probably read about the latest race car with an engine that can accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in 6 seconds. Well this one can accelerate nowhere near that, but it delivers so much thrust of enduring power for such a compact engine. A better comparison would be to a tanker truck hauling petroleum products across the archipelago. A normal-sized, highly-efficient tanker truck carrying 25 Metric Tons of Unleaded Gasoline for delivery to any point on the plains of Luzon can average 4.7 kilometers per liter of burned fuel. Jason on a normal voyage carries 40,000 Metric Tons of same petroleum product, averaging 300 nautical miles per 20 MT of total consumed fuel. Do the math. It will take around 1,600 such tanker trucks with a total combined fuel consumptions in the region of 161 MT to transport the same amount of cargo for the same distance that Jason does. 161 MT of burned fossil fuel compared to 20 MT. Talk about carbon footprint.
Emission wise, above comparison is justifiably non-biased in that the vessel is fitted with an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System commonly known as Scrubber. This De-SOx system is designed to reduce Sulfur Oxides in emission gas of almost all the combustion units onboard, fully compliant with the regulatory requirement that is to be implemented forth night. And he’s a NoNOx too. Fitted with a Selective Catalytic Reduction system, the technology effectively reduces Nitrogen Oxides emission from Marine Diesel Engines. It is not about to be declared that Jason is perfect in expelling into the atmosphere a Sulfur-free, NOx-free, non-genetically modified, non-racist, non-gender biased, non-socially discriminating exhaust, but he is close to it.
The ship has the capability to disinfect water ballast. And to disinfect means to kill any living organism that is in the water carried in the tanks that have otherwise proven that they can thrive in another part of the world. Imagine the proliferation of Asian Carp in the St. Lawrence River where shipping is partially to be blamed. The Carp introduced themselves into the delicate ecosystem after “hitch-riding” in the water ballast tanks of ocean going ships. Hundreds of millions of dollars are now being spent from the combined efforts of the US and Canadian government to limit the effect of the devastation. There is also the disastrous invasion of Northern Pacific Seastar in the waters of Australia devouring its mussel, shellfish and oyster crops. And many more, like the alarming presence of Round Goby in Scandinavian waters, the invasion of the Baltic Sea by Comb Jelly Fish from North America and the Chinese Mitten Crab from, well, China. All these coming from the water that international ships discharge into those shores. With an automated Filtration, Disinfection and Neutralization processes of the Ballast Water Treatment System of Jason that totally eliminates possibilities of transfer of living organism, such invasion will now be confined to where it belongs - the past.
Sleek, efficient, clean, a thing of beauty, manned by well-trained officers and crew and supported by efficient, experienced, very dedicated shore team Jason fully embodies the visions and the ideals of the owners.
It was said that the mythological hero embarked on his journey then to restore his family’s fortune, but the timeless appeal of Jason and the Argo perhaps seeks to speak to us on a more fundamental level, as if a reflection of our own journeys and struggles through life, our battles with inner demons. Or perhaps the Golden Fleece is a metaphor for us to be reawakened to the golden gifts of the Earth which we live on. Without fanfare JASON of today silently slipped out of harbor one cold afternoon and sailed steadily into the night to begin his journeys all over the new world. The Golden Fleece wherever it is Jason does not seek. He is only intent on doing what he was destined to do, to bring commodities to various shores and peoples around the world in the safest, cleanest and most efficient manner.
By : Capt. Antonio T. Ramos, Jr. Master, Jason