Crowley, Shell in LNG bunker barge pact
Crowley Maritime said September 1 it had entered into a long-term time charter with Anglo-Dutch major Shell NA underpinning the construction and operation of a new US-built LNG bunker barge expected in service along the US east coast in 2024.
The barge, 416 feet (127 m) in length with a capacity of 12,000 m3, will be the largest Jones Act-compliant vessel of its kind.
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“The new bunker barge will extend Crowley’s commitment to deliver cleaner, innovative solutions to help the shipping industry continue on the path to decarbonisation,” said Tucker Gilliam, vice president of Crowley Shipping. “Orders for ships fuelled by liquefied natural gas continue to rise, and the vessel will provide Shell an innovative and reliable service to meet demands for more sustainable energy sources.”
The barge, which will be built by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Wisconsin, will feature advanced technologies in cargo handling capabilities and increased transfer rates, including a state-of-the-art solution from Shell and Crowley Engineering Services to flexibly deliver LNG to various types of LNG containment systems.
“Shell is dedicated to growing our LNG bunkering network across key trade routes, and this barge supports our commitment to helping provide our customers with the energy solution they are looking for,” said Tahir Faruqui, general manager of global DLNG for Shell. “The shipping sector is making progress toward decarbonisation, and LNG offers immediate emissions reduction with the potential to become a net zero emission marine fuel given the possible roles of bio-LNG and synthetic LNG.”