ABS, a leading provider of classification services to the global marine and offshore industries, has been selected to class an LNG bunker barge under construction at Conrad Orange Shipyard Inc, a division of Conrad Shipyard, LLC, for WesPac Midstream LLC and Clean Marine Energy LLC (CME).

ABS To Class First LNG Bunker Barge for North American gas sector

Image: ABS

The 2,200 cu m barge is scheduled for delivery in mid-2016 and will initially be deployed in Tacoma, Wash., to service shipowner Totem Ocean Trailer Express’s (Totem Ocean) Orca Class ro-ro vessels. The unit will then be relocated to Jacksonville, Fla., to serve parent company TOTE’s Marlin Class dual-fuel container vessels and other LNG-powered vessels in the Port of Jacksonville.

“ABS continues to be instrumental in supporting the supply chain development for LNG as fuel in North America,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki. “Our work with industry, regulators and local stakeholders seeks to safely nurture innovation and helps to reduce the impact of maritime activity on the environment.”

Designed by Bristol Harbor Group Inc, the barge features a single tank equipped with the Mark III Flex cargo containment system supplied by GTT North America. The barge will also feature the GTT-developed REACH4 bunker mast to ensure safe and efficient transfer of LNG fuel to the receiving vessel.

WesPac/CME plans to exercise its options with Conrad to construct additional LNG bunker barges to serve other North American ports.

A pioneer in the safe transport and handling of gas and has extensive experience with the full scope of gas-related assets, ABS classed the largest LNG carriers in service, including the world’s first LNG carrier, the Methane Pioneer, in 1959. In 2013 ABS formed the Global Gas Solutions Team in response to the rapid escalation in the number of gas-related projects, including LNG and LPG transportation and the growing use of LNG and LPG as fuels.

Source: eagle.org