Last month, JAX LNG and Seaside LNG conducted the inaugural liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering in the Port of Savannah of CMA CGM SYMI during the ship’s call at the Garden City Terminal. The CMA CGM SYMI is a 15,000-TEU container ship and received approximately 4,600 cubic meters of LNG from North America’s largest LNG articulated tug and barge (ATB), the Clean Canaveral, during simultaneous operations (SIMOPS).
Roger Williams, Manager of JAX LNG and Vice President of Commercial LNG and Gas Development at BHE GT&S, the parent company of Pivotal LNG, recognized the collaborative effort, saying: “We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside CMA CGM staff in Marseille, Norfolk and Savannah in preparation for this unique bunker event that marked CMA CGM’s first LNG SIMOPS bunkering of a 15,000-TEU ship in the United States.”
The bunkering also marks Seaside LNG’s first bunkering of a dual-fuel container ship with membrane-type LNG tank technology, highlighting the efficient design of Seaside LNG’s 5,500-cubic-meter series LNG ATB. Tim Casey, CEO of Seaside LNG, noted the operator’s great work as well, saying: “The ATB design and skillful operator, McAllister LNG Services, has proven very resourceful to bunker container ships, car carriers, cruise ships and petroleum tankers with different cargo tank technologies.”
This inaugural bunkering marked multiple collaborative milestones and continues to demonstrate the viability of LNG as a marine fuel in the U.S. This safe and successful bunkering is a credit to the unparalleled support and coordination of all the Savannah Port Stakeholders including U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Savannah, Georgia Ports Authority, Garden City Fire Rescue, Savannah Fire Department, Savannah Pilots Association, Gateway Terminals and the International Longshoremen’s Association.