Rendering of the new articulated tug barge (ATB) being built for Q-LNG.
Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to provide the liquified natural gas systems for a new ocean-going LNG bunkering barge for the U.S. cruise ship market.
The articulated tug and barge (ATB) will be used to supply the LNG fuel to gas-powered cruise ships that are headed the east coast of Florida.
The 4,000 m3 capacity ATB is being built at the VT Halter Marine (VTHM) shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi on behalf of Quality Liquefied Natural Gas Transport LLC (Q-LNG). When delivered, the vessel will be on a long-term charter with Shell Oil Co.
It will be the first fuelling barge with a Wärtsilä solution operating in US waters, and the ATB itself is regarded as an important logistics link for the growth of LNG as a marine fuel in the United States.
The ATB will comprise a barge and a tug. It will be fitted with a Wärtsilä LNG cargo storage, handling, and control system. Wärtsilä will also supply the barge automation, power management, and ballast water management systems, as well the bow thruster. The tug will include Wärtsilä main propulsion steerable thrusters and shaft lines, the Wärtsilä NACOS Platinum dynamic positioning system, the tug automation, as well as all navigation and communication equipment.
The order with Wärtsilä was booked in November 2017. Deliveries will continue throughout 2018 and 2019, and the vessel is scheduled to commence operations in 2020.
“Q-LNG is very pleased to again be partnering with Wärtsilä on yet another ground-breaking project. Wärtsilä’s expertise in LNG systems, its solid reputation for top quality marine equipment, and its commitment to customer service fits in very well with Q-LNG’s plan to advance the development of LNG as a marine fuel in North America,” says Chad Verret, President of Q-LNG.
Q-LNG is owned 70% by Shane Guidry and 30% by New Orleans-based Harvey Gulf International Marine. The company currently has six vessels under construction or in operation that are powered by LNG and feature LNG systems provided by Wärtsilä.
“Wärtsilä is very grateful for the confidence placed in our solutions by VTHM, Q-LNG and Shell,” says Hanno Schoonman, General Manager Sales for Wärtsilä Marine Solutions in the USA. “Increasing the use of LNG as a marine fuel is at the core of our global business strategy, and this project represents an important step towards realizing that aim.”
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 105,917 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
CAIRO, March 2 (Reuters) – The Houthi Transport Ministry in Yemen said on Saturday there had been a “glitch” in undersea communication cables in the Red Sea as a result of actions...
by Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) In the current American labor landscape, the stark contrast between the assertive strides of transportation unions and the maritime sector’s unique labor challenges is striking....
![A screengrab of a map showing an earthquake Mindanao, Philippines on Dec 2, 2023. (Image: US Geological Survey [USGS])](https://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-02-at-10.45.17-AM-copy.png.webp)
By Mikhail Flores MANILA, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Evacuations were under way in the Philippines after a quake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck the southern region of Mindanao on Saturday night,...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 105,917 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
