(PORT CANAVERAL, Fla.) — Port Canaveral marked a historic milestone Monday in the safe, reliable transportation and delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in North America as Q-LNG 4000, a ship-to-ship bunkering barge, arrived at America’s first LNG cruise port. Nicknamed Q4K, the purpose-built vessel has been designed and engineered for transfers of LNG. Q4K will operate in Port Canaveral providing the fuel to cruise vessels, notably to Carnival Cruise Line’s LNG-powered Mardi Gras, which will call Port Canaveral its home port beginning this year.
“This project has been four years from concept to reality, and we are excited to welcome Q-LNG 4000 to fuel the next generation of cruise ships,” said Capt. John Murray, port CEO. “We have been working closely with our cruise partners, all the federal and state regulatory agencies, and industry leaders to promote this industry initiative.”
The barge, part of an articulated tug-barge (ATB) constructed in cooperation with LNG fuel supplier Shell Trading Co. and Q-LNG Transport, arrived at Port Canaveral recently for a sailing and berthing familiarization exercise. The vessel docked at Port Canaveral’s newly constructed Cruise Terminal 3, which was completed in June but not yet welcomed its first cruise passenger, with the global shutdown of the cruise industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“LNG is the fuel of the future. It’s clean, less expensive and made right here in the United States,” said Canaveral Port Authority Commission Chairman Wayne Justice. “We are proud to be part of making this safe secure move to the future in this region.”
The barge is 324 feet long and its attached tug is 128 feet long. The U.S.-owned and -operated vessel was constructed at VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Miss., and is crewed by U.S. mariners. It is the first Jones Act-compliant ATB built in the U.S. that is specifically designed to conduct LNG cargo and bunker operations. When Q4K is conducting ship-to-ship waterside bunkering of a cruise vessel like Carnival Mardi Gras, it will take place during the ship’s passenger debarking and embarking processes, like conventional refueling operations, and last approximately six to eight hours.
“We are proud to deliver Q-LNG 4000 to Port Canaveral,” said Chad Verret, president of Q-LNG Transport. “LNG is the marine fuel of the future, it’s domestically sourced and in abundant supply in the U.S. We look to supplying not only cruise ships but trading vessels in the future.”
The barge will load LNG from a fuel distribution facility on Elba Island, Ga., then return to Georgia to refuel after each LNG bunkering operation in Port Canaveral. Q4K has a carrying capacity of up to 4,000 cubic meters of LNG, the equivalent of 1 million gallons of fuel. Q-LNG 4000 will carry enough supply of LNG to fuel two cruise ships, each for a seven-day itinerary.
For four years, the Canaveral Port Authority has been preparing for the onset of LNG-fueled cruise vessels. The port has been working closely with federal and state regulatory and oversight authorities and agencies, and investing in infrastructure and personnel training to ensure the safety and security of the Port and surrounding community.
Q-LNG 4000 fueling operations will be supported while its in Port Canaveral by the port’s newly acquired fireboat, which arrived in January. The purpose-built marine firefighting rescue vessel (MFRV) will be operated by Canaveral Fire Rescue to provide enhanced fire protection and response capabilities to serve the expanding maritime and commercial space industry operations at the port.
– Canaveral Port Authority
