Vard Marine designs largest LNG Jones Act bunker barge
The 5,400m³ LNG bunker barge will be built at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (Source: Vard Marine)
Norwegian group Vard Marine has recently completed the concept design of a new 5,400cu.m liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge for Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, a U.S. yard in Italian group Fincantieri. The barge is being designed for Polaris New Energy’s bunkering operations that will support LNG-fuelled ships in the east coast of the United States. It will be built at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and is expected to be delivered in November 2021.
Vard Marine is currently developing a classification design package for the review and approval by the American Bureau of Shipping and the United States Coast Guard. The barge is designed with a philosophy of using proven technology. It will be fitted with four 1,350CBM IMO Type C tanks, utilising a cargo handling system designed and developed by Finnish group Wärtsilä. The barge will use cargo handling equipment for continuous cargo conditioning and to provide multiple levels of redundancy to maintain the LNG cargo’s pressure and temperature.
This project plays a key role in strengthening the bunkering capability in the United States to provide LNG as a marine fuel to domestic and foreign LNG fuelled vessels operating in U.S. ports. It will be among the largest capacity LNG Jones Act bunker barge designed and built up to now.
