Seaside expands LNG bunkering fleet with Tote deal

Seaside LNG says it now has the largest fleet of LNG bunkering barges in the US after it purchased Tote’s Clean Jacksonville.

The firm backed by Houston-based Arroyo Investors bought North America’s first LNG bunkering barge, which recently completed its 300th operation since 2018, from Tote Maritime Puerto Rico.

Built by Conrad, the LNG bunkering barge has no propulsion and it features one 2,200-cbm GTT LNG tank.

According to a statement by Seaside LNG, its maritime transportation unit, Polaris New Energy, has contracted to continue fueling Tote’s Marlin Class LNG-powered container ships and other commercial customers with its fleet of LNG bunkering barges.

In addition, Polaris entered into a long-term contract with Tote Services, a separate subsidiary of Tote, to continue serving as the technical manager of the bunkering barge Clean Jacksonville, it said.

Seaside LNG did not reveal the price tag of the deal.

The barge supplies liquefied natural gas to Tote’s Marlin class LNG-powered vessels and other ships in Jacksonville, Florida.

Tote Maritime Puerto Rico uses two LNG-fueled container vessels, namely Isla Bella and Perla del Caribe, to transport goods between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico.

The barge loads the fuel at Jax LNG, a production facility in Jacksonville.

Seaside LNG has a 50 percent interest and Pivotal LNG also owns a 50 percent stake in the small-scale facility with a capacity of 360,000 gallons per day.

Three bunkering barges

The acquisition of Clean Jacksonville complements the bunkering services of Polaris’ 5,500-cbm Clean Canaveral that operates along the coast of the southeastern US and is the largest bunkering barge in the Jones Act market, Seaside LNG said.

This articulated tug and barge unit completed its first LNG bunkering operation in March last year in Jacksonville.

Polaris also has a second 5,500-cbm barge, Clean Everglades, which is under construction at US-based Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and scheduled for delivery by end of 2023.

Seaside LNG now has the largest fleet of LNG barges operating in the US, CEO Tim Casey said in the statement.

“Seaside continues to expand its ability to bring environmentally-friendly LNG to the shipping industry with our partnership in JAX LNG and our investments in growing the LNG barge fleet,” he said.

“By purchasing the Clean Jacksonville, our team gains not only a new customer and valuable operating partner, but also the opportunity to expand our fleet operations geographically,” Casey said.

- Advertisements -

Most Popular

QatarEnergy picks shipowners for 18 giant LNG carriers

LNG giant QatarEnergy has selected shipowners to own and operate 18 Q-Max LNG carriers as part of its massive...

VTTI, IKAV to take majority stake in Italy’s Adriatic LNG terminal

Rotterdam-based storage terminal owner VTTI, co-owned by Vitol, IFM, and Adnoc, joined forces with German asset manager IKAV to...

Seapeak says working on charter and other opportunities for six LNG carriers

Stonepeak's Seapeak is pursuing various opportunities relating to six of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers which are scheduled...

More News Like This

Seaside’s LNG bunkering barge completes first delivery to Carnival’s newbuild

Seaside LNG’s bunkering barge, Clean Jacksonville, has completed its first delivery to Carnival’s newest LNG-powered vessel, Carnival Jubilee, as...

Seaside’s LNG bunkering barge to fuel Carnival’s newbuild

Seaside LNG’s bunkering barge, Clean Jacksonville, will fuel Carnival's newest LNG-powered vessel, Carnival Jubilee, under a new deal revealed...

Seaside takes delivery of new LNG bunkering barge

Houston-based Seaside LNG has taken delivery of the 5,500-cbm LNG bunkering barge, Clean Everglades, from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. Executives from...

Arroyo in US LNG bunkering move

Houston-based Arroyo Investors said it had closed an investment in Seaside LNG, which owns the LNG bunkering barge, Clean...