(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) — The American Bureau of Shipping will class an LNG bunker barge for WesPac Midstream and Clean Marine Energy that will supply liquefied natural gas for TOTE Maritime’s dual-fuel vessels.
The 2,200-cubic-meter barge will be delivered from Conrad Shipyard in the middle of next year. Initially it will supply LNG fuel to TOTE’s Orca-class ro-ro vessels at the Port of Tacoma in Washington state.
However, it will later be based at Jacksonville, supporting TOTE’s Marlin-class dual-fuel containerships and any other LNG-fueled tonnage that calls at the port.
ABS says take-up of LNG as marine fuel is starting to gather pace in the U.S.
Sean Bond, director, global gas solutions for ABS, said at this week’s Gastech conference in Singapore that environmental legislation, falling gas prices and regulatory advances on the part of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) were factors driving demand.
ABS is continuing to develop rules and regulations, having published an interim guide to LNG-readiness.
