December 28, 2017

Waller Marine’s LNG ATB Design Selected for Construction by Q-LNG

The world’s first LNG ATB bunker vessel designed by Waller Marine Inc. was recently contracted for construction by Q-LNG for long term charter by Shell Trading. This marks an important step of Waller Marine’s small-scale LNG development that the Company initiated in 2012.

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David Waller, President of Waller Marine, commented, “I’m very pleased to see this deal between Shell and Q-LNG/Harvey Gulf that will create the United States’ first ocean going LNG bunker vessel. Waller Marine has been involved in LNG development for many years now, gaining initial ABS Approval in Principal in for its ATB LNG systems in 2012. We see this as a major accomplishment towards a growing small-scale LNG market in the US and worldwide.”

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Waller Marine’s articulated tug and barge (ATB) design grew out of the company’s long standing naval architecture and marine engineering expertise and understanding of the requirements for handling cryogenic liquids. The Company’s VP of Engineering, Stephen McKillop, stated “safety was always the number one priority in the design of this ATB, and our interaction during the entire process with both the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the US Coast Guard ensured that all codes were properly met.”

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VT Halter Marine has been contracted for construction of America’s first offshore LNG ATB. Designed with an LNG capacity of 4,000 cubic meters, the vessels will be constructed according to standards of the ABS and will meet applicable requirements of the International Gas Carrier (“IGC”) code. The barge will have dimensions of 324’ x 64’ x 32.6’ and the 4,000 HP tug will measure 128’ x 42’ x 21’

With the growing demand for LNG as a marine fuel to meet the fast upcoming ship emissions (ECA) requirements, many major shipping and cruise line companies are looking for suppliers of the clean fuel. Shell said in its own release that “As the first of its kind to be based in the United States, the ocean-going LNG bunker barge will supply LNG to marine customers along the southern East Coast of the U.S. and support growing cruise line demand for LNG marine fuel”

Waller Marine’s series of LNG ATB designs range in capacity from 3,000 to 30,000 cubic meters with specific applications for LNG distribution, regasification and bunkering services. The Company is presently designing a 6,600 cubic meter unit for US bunkering service.  

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Waller Marine, Inc is a marine engineering contracting company located in Houston, Texas; www.wallermarine.com.