• 2024 April 20 10:05

    Newbuild ocean tug bolsters growing LNG bunker fleet

    With the LNG-capable fleet projected to top more than 1,000 ships by 2027, growing LNG bunkering infrastructure at ports in Europe, Asia and North America will be vital. Investments by the largest US LNG bunker vessel owner, Houston-based Seaside LNG and its maritime transport arm New Polaris Energy, continue to enhance LNG refuelling infrastructure in the US, Seaside LNG reports.

    In March, Seaside LNG/Polaris New Energy reported the delivery of the newbuild ocean tug Tortuga as part of a new LNG bunkering articulated tug barge (ATB) unit.

    Built by Alabama shipbuilder Master Boat Builders, the 2,983-kW ocean tug is the power unit for 5,500-m3 LNG bunker ocean barge Clean Everglades. Seaside LNG took delivery of Clean Everglades from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin in October 2023.

    Tortuga has an overall length of 33 m, with propulsion power supplied by two EPA-compliant Tier 4 Caterpillar 3512E main engines that drive two Berg MTA 523 Z-drives. A JAK 400PHL-L coupling system supplied by Beacon Finland allows Tortuga to connect to Clean Everglades to form the ATB unit. The same coupling system is used for a sister LNG ATB unit, consisting of the ocean tug Polaris and Clean Canaveral.

    Clean Everglades was designed by Vard and has an overall length of 104 m, beam of 20 m, and depth of 10 m. Built to ABS class, the ocean tank barge has four 1,350-m3 IMO Type C tanks, with a cargo-handling system designed and developed by Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.

    In January, Clean Everglades completed its first ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of LNG to Isla Bella, one of TOTE’s two LNG-fuelled, 3,100-TEU container ships at TOTE Maritime’s terminal near Jacksonville, Florida. The operation was a regularly scheduled delivery under TOTE’s long-term service contract with Polaris New Energy. TOTE Services acts as Seaside’s operating partner for both Clean Jacksonville and Clean Everglades.

    “Seaside LNG/Polaris New Energy is leading the way in LNG maritime distribution, with the largest LNG bunker fleet in the country,” says Master Boat Builders president Garrett Rice.

    Largest LNG bunker fleet in US

    Of the four LNG bunker vessels operating in the US, Seaside LNG controls three of them, Clean Canaveral, Clean Everglades and Clean Jacksonville, which it acquired from TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, a subsidiary of TOTE Maritime Group, last year. Clean Jacksonville, a 2,200-m3 coastal LNG barge, has performed hundreds of LNG bunkering operations since it began operating six years ago. It has been regularly used to refuel TOTE’s Marlin-class LNG-powered container ships that operate between Jacksonville, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico in Jones Act service since August 2018.

    In November, Seaside LNG announced it would reposition Clean Jacksonville to the Port of Galveston in Texas, to provide marine transport supporting a long-term LNG supply agreement with Carnival Corp. Houston-based Stabilis Solutions will supply firm LNG deliveries from its liquefaction facility in Texas under the two-year contract with Carnival.

    On 30 December, the first STS transfer under the agreement was conducted at the port between Clean Jacksonville and LNG-powered cruise ship Carnival Jubilee.

    While relatively small at 64 m, Clean Jacksonville is unique in that it is the first and only LNG barge built to date in the US fitted with a single membrane cargo tank based on GTT Mark III Flex cargo containment technology. GTT also developed a specially designed bunkering arm to refuel ships at a transfer rate of 500 m3/h.

    Besides a marine transport fleet, Seaside LNG owns a 50% stake through a joint venture with Pivotal LNG in JAX LNG, a small-scale LNG production facility in Jacksonville.




2024 November 13

11:24 GTT receives an order from China Merchant Heavy Industry-Jiangsu for the tank design of a new LNG сarrier
10:52 Thecla Bodewes Shipyards successfully launches 5,050dwt vessel 'Iana’ for Transtal Shipping
10:00 ACCIONA to build a new breakwater to shelter floating port terminal in Ravenna
09:21 Bureau Veritas embarks with Selar to certify its pioneering wind and solar powered polar expedition vessel

2024 November 12

18:06 Iraq shortlists 11 firms for Grand Faw port operation, decision in January 2025
17:42 ZeroNorth and Vitol launch digital bunker trial in port of Rotterdam
17:24 LR MDH joins call to accelerate adoption of zero-emission fuels by 2030
16:41 Port of Rotterdam Authority sets tariffs for the next three years
16:25 Vitol Terminal Latvia introduces new aniline transshipment service
15:45 UECC and Daphne Technology join forces to drive advanced emissions monitoring on UECC’s latest vehicle carrier
15:18 Seatrium inks LoI for a Heavy Lift Vessel for Japan’s wind market
14:55 Silverstream and Yiu Lian Dockyards (Shekou) sign MoU to drive Silverstream® System installations
14:13 AD Ports Group delivers record revenue of AED 4.66 bln and total net profit of AED 445 mln in Q3 2024
13:44 BAR Technologies signs an agreement with WindWaves to manufacture new 20 and 24 metre WindWings
12:31 Sanmar delivers powerful escort tug to P&O Maritime Logistics
11:40 e1 Marine and STAX Engineering partner on innovative barge-based emission capture and control project
11:00 New Yangzi Shipbuilding delivers SEASPAN's 12th dual-fuel medium-sized container ship
10:31 Van Oord completes major dredging project in Egypt
10:03 Zhenhua Heavy Industries launched the world's largest piling vessel for CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Bureau
09:49 Telemar announces agreement to install and maintain Sealution’s shipboard data collection technology

2024 November 11

18:00 ADNOC Gas to buy 60% in Ruwais LNG plant
17:18 Strategic Marine signs contract with Mainprize Offshore for six new Supa Swath vessels, with options for six more
17:01 Hanwha Ocean wins 713.5 bln-won deal to build two LNG carriers for Maran Gas Maritime
16:35 One missing after MSDF vessel sinks due to fire off Fukuoka
16:05 Northern European ports in collaboration receive EU funding for onshore power for container ships
15:32 Maersk Tankers to deploy suction sail technology at scale to reduce CO2 emissions
15:12 CMA CGM's revenue up 38.5% to USD 15.8 bln in Q3 2024
14:45 DP World Australia announces acquisition of Silk Logistics
13:24 SAFEEN Group achieves Guinness World Record for most powerful electric tugboat
12:53 Höegh Evi to partner with SEMOP Port-La Nouvelle to develop strategic infrastructure for hydrogen import to France and Europe
12:08 ICTSI's Adriatic Gate Container Terminal hit 2 more milestones
11:24 Daito Corporation to build an electric tugboat
10:43 Hudong Zhonghua completes sea trial of LNG carrier built for Qatar Energy
10:20 CSSC Engine delivers China's first domestically produced methanol dual-fuel main engine
09:47 Hapag-Lloyd acquires German ship management company Hamburger Lloyd

2024 November 10

15:03 Keel laying ceremony marks the birth date of new ships for Scilly
13:44 Singapore is strengthening its position as a global hub for supply chain management (SCM)
12:13 ACP: Panama Canal could double the number of containers transiting
11:38 INOX India Ltd announces Q2FY25 Results
10:09 Chittagong port sees 13% fall in export container handling

2024 November 9

13:41 Montreal port employers threaten shutdown over labour dispute
12:49 China Merchants signs letter of intent with Brazilian port authority Portos do Parana
11:08 ZIM integrates Hoopo’s solar tracking solutions
09:52 Mexican terminal TMAZ welcomes arrival of MSC vessel

2024 November 8

18:00 Greece, Turkey to keep talking on maritime boundaries agenda
17:35 Montreal Port urges Trudeau government to end strike
17:24 Yangzijiang Shipbuilding receives 98 new orders this year
16:57 Utilizing Milbros UV Graphs improves chemical tank cleaning safety and turnaround
16:25 Transnet National Ports Authority pilots usage of cleaner fuels on its tugboat fleet
15:34 Wallenius Wilhelmsen exercise options for two additional 11,700 CEU Shaper vessels
15:02 IMO heads to COP 29 to promote net-zero framework for shipping
14:45 Fincantieri, VARD and Sandock Austral Shipyards form alliance around the Afrika Offshore Patrol Vessel
14:25 KOTUG’s SD Waalo begins maiden voyage under bp charter for LNG operations
12:43 QatarEnergy inaugurates four LNG vessels, the first from Korean shipyards
12:24 Fincantieri finalizes order with Crystal for a new high-end cruise ship
10:09 Friday Shipbrokers fix chartering project with Boskalis to transport car carrier to China for repair
09:20 ExxonMobil successfully supplies Hapag-Lloyd with B25 bio marine fuel blend in Antwerp

2024 November 7

18:00 Innovation Norway and Team Norway sign two agreements aimed at advancing sustainable maritime solutions
17:54 MABUX: Bunker price trends in the world's four largest hubs, Nov 4 - Nov 8, 2024
17:36 Konecranes expands emissions reduction ambition by committing to setting long-term, science-based net-zero targets
17:16 HD KSOE receives AiP from LR and LISCR for ammonia fuel-related equipment
17:08 ClassNK granted its “ELW (HP)” notation to bulk carrier “ROYAL LAUREL”
16:42 Equinor strengthens its position in the Norwegian Sea
16:24 Provaris Energy raises A$1.5 million to support hydrogen and CO₂ initiatives
15:56 Catator joins Ammonia Energy Association to accelerate adoption of ammonia for shipping
15:46 Scandlines wins innovation award of the German mobility industry
14:33 Flex LNG agrees to amend the existing time charter agreements for the two LNG carriers
13:41 ADNOC secures 15-year sales and purchase agreement for Ruwais LNG project
13:07 Three fugitive methane detection and measurement technology companies selected for feasibility studies
12:44 Irving Shipbuilding chooses TMC for Canadian patrol ships