ATB bunker barge will be a ‘first’

Work has begun on construction of what will be the United States’ first articulated tug and barge (ATB) bunkering unit for liquefied natural gas.

The New Orleans-based company Q-LNG Transport has contracted with VT Halter Marine for the building of the ATB unit, which is expected to be delivered in first quarter 2020.

The commencement of construction was announced at a ceremony in August in VT Halter’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, highlighted by the initial cutting of steel for the ATB.

Shane Guidry, chief executive of Q-LNG, said: “I’m looking forward to developing a long-term relationship with VT Halter and my ATB project is only the beginning. The cutting of this steel for America’s first liquefied natural gas ATB bunkering vessel is the beginning for LNG to become the marine fuel of the future.”

Significant step

Rob Mullins, chief executive of VT Halter Marine, said: “We believe that this is a significant step towards the USA becoming the premier supplier of liquefied natural gas as the environmentally friendly maritime fuel source of choice for the future.”

Subsequently, Q-LNG has signed a preliminary agreement with VT Halter Marine covering the construction of a second ATB unit with a capacity of 8,000 cubic metres which is set to be ordered speculatively.

The formation of Q-LNG Transport was announced in November 2017 along with a long-term contract with Shell to deliver LNG as a fuel source to various ports in Florida and the Caribbean. At the same time, the contract between Q-LNG and VT Halter Marine was announced for construction of the ATB at Pascagoula.

VT Halter Marine has contracted with Q-LNG for engineering services to complete the detailed functional design for the development and construction of the first ATB unit. This will be an integral part of the LNG infrastructure development in the cruise entertainment industry and designed to provide ship-to-ship transfers of LNG to vessels using LNG as a fuel source; and also ship-to-shore transfers to small-scale marine distribution infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico and farther afield.

Construction will involve collaboration between VT Halter and Wärtsilä, which is providing a range of equipment. For the barge this will include the cargo handling, cargo control and cargo containment system as well as the PMS and automation onboard. For the tug it includes all bridge navigation, communications and dynamic positioning equipment as well as thruster, PMS and automation.

ABS – Main particulars

The first ATB tug for Q-LNG will be powered by 5,100 hp, GE 6L250 MDC EPA Tier 4 main engines with Z-drives and dimensions of 128 ft x 42 ft x 21 ft.

The 324 ft x 64 ft x 32 ft 6 in barge is designed to carry 4,000 cubic meters of LNG. The ATB unit is designed to meet the requirements of the ABS and the International Gas Carrier (IGC) code as an LNG bunkering barge.