Wärtsilä to Equip US LNG Fueling Barge
Wärtsilä said it will provide a broad scope of products and solutions for a new articulated tug barge (ATB) that will be used to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel to cruise ships along the east coast of Florida, U.S.
The 4,000 m3 capacity ATB is being built at the VT Halter Marine (VTHM) shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. 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.
The barge 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 owned 70 percent by Shane Guidry and 30 percent by Harvey Gulf International Marine, a company that currently has six vessels under construction or in operation with LNG solutions supplied by Wärtsilä.