American Gas - November 2013 - (Page 26)

a tiGht ship Mariners look to LNG as a cleaner, cheaper alternative By GAry jAmes W ith U.S. regulations on ship-generated engine exhaust growing tighter, and supplies of natural gas increasing, LNG is drawing more attention in North America as a clean, economical alternative to traditional marine fuel. More and more North American shipping companies are choosing LNG, as recent developments indicate: * Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry operator in the U.S., plans to convert six existing ferries to LNG. * Canadian ferry services provider Société des Traversiers du Québec, or STQ, has signed a contract to build three new passenger car ferries, all featuring a dual-fuel LNG solution from Finnish firm Wärtsilä. * Sea Star Line LLC, a cargo ship operator owned by Tote Inc., in Princeton, 26 AmericAn GAs november 2013 N.J., plans to put two LNG-powered container ships into service between Florida and Puerto Rico in late 2015. * Harvey Gulf International Marine LLC, based in New Orleans, plans to construct and operate the United States' first LNG marine fueling facility in Port Fourchon, La. It is due to open in the spring of 2014. In addition, Harvey Gulf has ordered six offshore support vessels, powered by Wärtsilä LNG fuel engines, making it the world's largest owner and operator of such vessels, according to the company. * Houston-based Shell plans to build two new small-scale LNG liquefaction facilities in Sarnia, Ontario, and Geismar, La., serving the Great Lakes and Gulf Coast regions, respectively. Each facility will be capable of 250,000 tons of annual output. This follows an earlier decision to build a similar small-scale LNG facility at Jumping Pound, near Calgary, Alberta. "Almost every new project we work on involving marine engines requests information about LNG fuel options," says Paul Glandt, general manager of ship power marketing, Americas, for Wärtsilä, a leading worldwide provider of power solutions for the marine and energy markets, with headquarters in Helsinki. "Companies recognize that they need to take action to reduce their emissions. And, as a clean, efficient fuel, LNG is emerging as a very attractive solution." Glandt will be part of a panel discussion titled "Gas Monetization" at the 4th World Shale Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition, Nov. 4-8 in Houston. During his presentation, Glandt will update attendees on the major opportunities that are emerging in the use of LNG for marine transportation. "LNG for marine use is no longer something to look at as a possibility down the road," says Glandt. "It's probable and

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - November 2013

American Gas - November 2013
Contents
President’s Message
Subject Index
Head Start: On Energy Education
Digest
Issues
Updates
By the Numbers
Need to Know
Places
The Wheels on the Bus...
California
Michigan
Michigan
New Jersey
Long Island
Fueling the Future
U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz
A Tight Ship
Expanding the Reach of the Gas Infrastructure
Company Profiles
Jobs
Marketplace
Headway

American Gas - November 2013