Americas News
Sea Star Line Opts For LNG Powered Box Ships
Jacksonville-based Sea Star Line is making the move towards liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping and bunkering with two LNG-powered container ships on order.
Sea Star, which is a subsidiary of TOTE Inc, said that the two Marlin-class ships are currently being built by General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, and also contains MAN Diesel and Turbo's first dual-fuel slow speed engine for containerships.
Both ships will serve the company's route between Jacksonville and San Juan in Puerto Rico, with TOTE executives also touting the ships' energy efficiency.
Hull 495, the first of the two 3,100 TEU ships, is set to be delivered in 2015, with the second following in 2016.
The two ships will also help Sea Star to meet Emission Control Area (ECA) regulations, which will limit sulfur content in marine fuel used in ECAs to 0.10 percent by weight beginning 2015.
The company is also waiting upon the completion of the LNG bunkering station at the Jacksonville Port, which will be the first in North America.
Once finished, the plant will produce 300,000 gallons of LNG per day.
The facility is a joint venture between Pivotal LNG Inc. and California-based energy group Wespac Midstream LLC, and is slated to become operational in 2016.
