VT Halter Marine, Inc., a ST Engineering North America company, held a vessel naming ceremony for America’s first offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Articulated Tug and Barge (LNG ATB) unit.
The Q-LNG 4000 (barge) and the Q-Ocean Services (tug) were officially named in a ceremony that included U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, along with Shane Guidry, CEO of Q-LNG, and Tom Vecchiolla, President and CEO of ST Engineering North America.
Over the last four years, Jones Act ship operators have taken steps to transition their fleets to use cleaner burning fuels, including LNG. Designed and built by VT Halter, the barge is designed to provide ship-to-ship transfers of LNG to vessels that use LNG as a fuel source and also ship-to-shore transfers to small scale marine distribution infrastructure in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and abroad.
“When I am in DC, I always say, ‘Let me tell you about the fabulous shipbuilders on the Mississippi Gulf.’ You are a key part of our national defense,” Hyde-Smith said. “I am confident of the quality of work that comes out of VT Halter Marine, such as this Q-LNG barge and the Polar Security Cutter that you are working on now. You give us plenty to brag about in Washington D.C.”
The ATB tug will have 5,100 horsepower, GE 6L250 MDC EPA Tier 4 main engines, with Wartsila Z-drives, and dimensions of 128’ x 42’ x 21’. The barge is designed to carry 4,000 cubic meters of LNG, and will have dimensions of 324’ x 64’ x 32’.6”.
The LNG ATB Unit is designed to meet the requirements of American Bureau of Shipbuilding and the International Gas Carrier code as an LNG bunkering barge.
Anticipated delivery of the first unit is in the first quarter of 2020.
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News interviewed Ron Baczkowski, President and CEO, VT Halter Marine, in the August 2019 edition.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/shipbuilding-interview-ron-baczkowski-vt-469561