Kinder Morgan to Expand Its Fleet of Jones Act Tankers

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: KMP) today announced the closing of an agreement with Crowley Maritime Corporation to purchase two Jones Act tankers for approximately $270 million. The MT Pennsylvania and the MT Florida engage in the marine transportation of crude oil, condensate and refined products in the United States, commonly referred to as the Jones Act trade, and are currently operating pursuant to multi-year charters with a major integrated oil company. The vessels each have approximately 330,000 barrels of cargo capacity and will join Kinder Morgan’s existing fleet of five operating tankers. The company previously commissioned the construction of an additional five tankers, which are expected to be delivered between 2015 and 2017. Crowley, a leading operator and technical manager in the U.S. product tanker industry, will continue to operate the vessels. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to cash available to KMP unitholders upon closing, which is expected to be effective Nov. 1.