The following is the text of a news release from the University of Wisconsin-Superior:
(SUPERIOR, Wis.) — The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute (GLMRI) has been awarded $400,000 to continue its research and outreach on using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel.
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) under the Department of Transportation provided the funding for the research program. Under a cooperative agreement between the two agencies, MarAd extended the ongoing work that GLMRI has been doing since 2011 to continue working to research the use of LNG for marine vessels on the Great Lakes and the region, and to further research the supply chain for LNG.
On Sept. 18, Dr. Richard Stewart, co-director of GLMRI, Carol Wolosz, executive director, and Cassandra Roemhildt, research associate, had a kickoff meeting at the University of Wisconsin-Superior with Daniel Yuska from MarAd to discuss the focus of the work. Faculty members from the UW-Superior Business Department — Dr. Amit Mokashi, Dr. Mei Cao and Dr. Zamira Simkins — also met with Yuska to talk about other maritime related projects at the university.
In May 2014 at UW-Superior, GLMRI held its third annual meeting to discuss the LNG potential for the Great Lakes region. Experts discussed LNG uses and safety, along with their experiences as current users. Speakers also addressed the potential benefits of using LNG, with a focus on "greening the supply chain." Attendees at the meeting included potential LNG fuel users from the mining, agricultural, trucking, rail and maritime sectors along with LNG equipment and LNG development companies. City, state and federal representatives from the Great Lakes region, along with fire marshals and first responders participated to better understand the embedded safety culture.
In the newly awarded effort, GLMRI will continue to work with industry, governmental agencies and potential users to extend the LNG supply chain and research potential sites and methods on providing LNG to the maritime industry and other potential users. GLMRI will work to support educational workshops over the coming year, to provide informational sessions on the use and potential economic and environmental benefits associated with fueling with LNG.
GLMRI was established in 2004 to pursue research efforts in marine transportation, logistics, economics, engineering, environmental planning, and port management. GLMRI is a joint program between UW-Superior and University of Minnesota Duluth, with 10 affiliate universities in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute, designated as a National Maritime Enhancement Institute through the U.S. Department of Transportation, is dedicated to developing and improving economically and environmentally sustainable maritime commerce on the Great Lakes through applied research.
