Centerline Logistics, one of the nation’s largest marine petroleum transportation companies, took another step forward in its plan to modernize America’s critical maritime infrastructure. The company has signed a Letter of Intent  with Vard Marine, a naval architecture and marine engineering firm with extensive LNG experience, to develop a customized 6,000 m3 Articulated Tug and Barge LNG Bunker barge.

Centerline has partnered with Vard Marine to develop a safe and economical barge that will meet the growing and diverse LNG needs of the maritime shipping industry – helping to reduce emissions in America’s ports and harbors. The Jones Act-compliant ATB barge will be designed to safely navigate U.S. and International waters and to provide LNG refueling (bunkers) to a variety of ships as well as call at terminals. The barge is expected to go into service in 2024.

“These are exciting times for LNG as a marine fuel. We are honored to support Centerline to further a more flexible and sustainable LNG marine bunkering infrastructure here in the U.S.,” said Darren Truelock, Vard US Vice President of Operations.

With over 225 LNG-fueled ships in
operation and an additional 400 on
order, the need for providing
dependable LNG bunkering
solutions in the U.S. is growing rapidly. “As more shipping companies are targeting a goal of net-zero emissions, LNG is going to play a critical role in providing a feasible pathway to that target. Much as we have over the last several decades with our traditional bunkering operations, Centerline is looking forward to providing our customers with safe and reliable LNG bunkering solutions,” said Ravi Sekhon, Director of Engineering & Sustainability at Centerline Logistics.

Last year, Centerline announced its Visionary Fuels Initiative. This ambitious effort leverages Centerline’s unique and diverse asset list and industry expertise to develop future marine transportation equipment, standards, and technology targeted towards improving environmental stewardship and sustainability within America’s ports and harbors.

Rachael Haykin, Visionary Fuels Business Development Lead, said, “Our work with Vard represents an outstanding opportunity for Centerline to put our bold Visionary Fuels Initiative into action. We are eager to collaborate with Vard to refine the barge design over the next few months and begin construction soon thereafter.”