Vard Marine secures design contract for 7600 m3 LNG Bunker Vessels for Seaspan ULC
Vard Marine Inc. has been contracted to develop a classification design package for review and approval by Bureau Veritas for Seaspan ULC for 7600 m3 LNG Bunker Vessels.
The 2 + 1 vessel build contract has been awarded to Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (SOE), a subsidiary of CIMC Enric Holdings.
Vard Marine and Seaspan ULC have been working closely over the past two years to develop the latest in LNG bunkering solutions. The vessel will incorporate emerging technologies, and improve operational emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions while considering underwater radiated noise. The design is focused on safe, efficient and economical refueling of multiple ship types as well as an ability to transfer to and from a wide range of terminals, and will engage in ship-to-ship LNG transfer as well as coastal/short sea shipping operations.
Seaspan ULC is a group of Canadian companies primarily involved in coastal marine transportation, shipdocking/ship escort, ship repair and shipbuilding services in Western North America.
SOE will build the 7600 m3 LNG bunkering vessel at their shipyard in China. SOE is one of the most experienced small scale gas carrier shipbuilding yards having delivered more than 30 gas carriers for LNG, LEG and LPG.
Over recent years, Vard Marine has completed a series of LNG bunkering solutions from 1,200 m3 to 15,000 m3. Most recently for Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, a second LNG Bunker Barge was developed for a previous client, Polaris New Energy.
“LNG as a marine fuel is being adopted in North America and around the world at an exponential rate,” said Darren Truelock, Vice President of Vard Marine’s Houston operations, “and Vard Marine is proud to be a part of this evolution."
The vessel dimensions will be 113 m overall length, 18.6 m beam, and have a depth of 8.4 m. This project plays a leading role in developing the North American bunkering capability to provide LNG as a marine fuel to domestic and foreign LNG fuelled vessels. It will be the first and largest dedicated LNG bunker vessel designed and built to date for operations in North America.