Oaktree Capital Management-backed NorthStar Terminals has ordered another LNG bunkering barge at US-based Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.
PNE Marine, an affiliate of NorthStar’s Polaris New Energy executed the shipbuilding agreement with Fincantieri Bay, according to a statement on Wednesday.
This new 5,500-cbm ship would be a sister vessel to the LNG bunker barge Clean Canaveral, which would be delivered to Polaris in mid-November, NorthStar said.
Fincantieri Marine Group’s yard, which is the US division of Italian Fincantieri, recently launched the Clean Canaveral.
NorthStar said the new articulated tug and barge (ATB) adds to its growing fleet delivering LNG to cruise ships, container vessels, bulk carriers, car carriers, and tankers that are in service or on order today.
It will have four 1,375-cbm IMO Type C tanks and a cargo handling system designed and developed by Finland’s Wartsila. ABS will class this 103 meters long vessel as well.
The firm did not provide the price tag of the new contract.
Tim Casey, senior VP – LNG for Northstar, said the addition of this new vessel “further distinguishes Northstar’s capabilities to manage the last-mile logistics of LNG safely and effectively across the US coastline.”
“The new capacity will provide unmatched reliability and flexibility in the current market and is the next step in our strategy to create a complete platform of LNG logistical solutions for marine customers,” he said.
NorthStar previously said the Clean Canaveral would operate along the US East Coast. Besides its bunkering capabilities, the unit can also work as a small-scale LNG carrier.
It will source the fuel from JAX LNG, a production facility in Jacksonville, Florida. NorthStar and Pivotal LNG run the facility jointly.
The duo is working to increase the facility’s production capability three times to 360,000 gallons per day but also double LNG storage capacity to four million gallons.