VT Halter Marine launches first US offshore LNG ATB unit
Published by Will Owen,
Editor
LNG Industry,
A few weeks after being named, the Q-LNG 4000 has been launched from the docks of VT Halter Marine, Inc.
The Q-LNG 4000 is the US’ first offshore LNG articulated tug and barge (LNG ATB) unit. The vessel is designed to carry 4000 m3 of LNG, with dimensions of 324 ft x 64 ft x 32.6 ft. Its tug, the Q-Ocean Services, is scheduled to launch late October. The tug will have 5100 hp, powered by two GE 6L250 MDC EPA Tier 4 main engines, with Wartsila Z-drives, and dimensions of 128 ft x 42 ft x 21 ft.
“The Q-LNG 4000 is dedicated to delivering safe transit to all ships and ports it will serve,” said Shane J Guidry, Chief Executive Officer of Q-LNG Transport. “Q-LNG Transport is committed to being a leader in developing LNG infrastructure in the US and abroad. We are equally pleased that the ATB unit is Jones Act compliant, meaning she was constructed in America, owned by an American company, crewed by Americans under an American flag.”
The LNG ATB Unit is designed to meet the requirements of the American Bureau of Shipbuilding (ABS) and the International Gas Carrier (IGC) codes as an LNG bunkering barge.
Anticipated delivery of the ATB unit is in 1Q20.
In November 2017, VT Halter Marine was awarded a contract by Q-LNG Transport to build the ATB LNG unit, which was announced as part of a long-term contract with Shell Trading (US) Co., to deliver LNG as a fuel source to various ports in Florida and the Caribbean. It will bunker Carnival Cruise Line’s two new dual-fuel ships and two dual-fuel Siem Car Carrier pure car truck carriers chartered by the Volkswagen Group to transport vehicles from Europe to North America.
“We are proud of this successful launch,” said Ronald Baczkowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of VT Halter Marine. “It marks a significant milestone in our role to deliver cleaner and more efficient fuels for the cruise and commercial ship industries. The professional and dedicated employees of VT Halter Marine have put their hearts and souls into building a vessel that will support environmentally friendly domestic commerce for decades to come.”
Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/17102019/vt-halter-marine-launches-first-us-offshore-lng-atb-unit/
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