Vard Marine Completes Concept Design for Largest LNG Barge in the U.S.

Part of an articulated tug barge (ATB) unit, the ocean barge will use a coupler system to connect to a suitable tug and will be operated by NorthStar Midstream’s marine transportation company Polaris New Energy on the US east coast for refuelling LNG-powered vessels.

Ordered from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in September, NorthStar Midstream will take delivery of the bunker barge from the shipyard in November 2021.

Classification design package for review and approval

Vard Marine is currently developing a classification design package for review and approval by class society ABS and the United States Coast Guard.

With an overall length of 104 m, beam of 20 m and depth of 9.9 m, the barge will have four 1,350-m³ IMO Type C tanks, and an LNG cargo handling system designed and developed by Wärtsilä.

Largest bunker in the US

As the largest LNG bunker barge ordered yet in the US, it will play a vital role in strengthening LNG bunkering infrastructure in the US to support both US- and international-flag vessels at US ports. LNG will be sourced at JAX LNG, a small-scale LNG facility in Jacksonville, Florida, and developed by JAX LNG, a partnership of Pivotal LNG and NorthStar Midstream.

NorthStar Midstream, Texas, holds options to build two additional sister LNG bunker barges with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.

Sole LNG bunker

While Clean Jacksonville is the only LNG bunker inland barge operating in the US, it will be joined next year by Q-LNG 4000, the first LNG ATB bunker vessel built in the US. Under construction at VT Halter Marine in Mississippi, Q-LNG 4000 is being built for Q-LNG LLC, a joint venture of Shane Guidry and Harvey Gulf International Marine. Mr Guidry, chief executive of Harvey Gulf International Marine, holds a 70% interest in Q-LNG. Q-LNG has also signed a letter of intent for an 8,000-m³ LNG ATB unit with VT Halter Marine, but that has not as yet been firmed up as an order. Shell has signed a long-term charter for Q-LNG 4000, which will operate out of Port Canaveral, Florida.