Americas News
Construction Begins on World's First LNG-Fuelled Containership
TOTE Inc. (TOTE) says construction has begun on the world's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containership.
"These ships will be the most advanced, environmentally progressive vessels of their kind," said state Representative Duncan Hunter.
"But they also represent $350 million in U.S. investment, 600 American shipyard jobs, and the bright future of the indispensable domestic maritime industry."
The ship is one of two new Marlin class TOTE vessels being built by General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, California for the Puerto Rico trade.
"The move to LNG fuel is no less significant than the evolution from sail to steam," said Mark Tabbutt, Chairman of Saltchuk, TOTE's parent company,
"The Marlins represent the start of a new age in American maritime."
The vessels are expected to eliminate almost all sulfur dioxide (SOx) and particulate matter emissions and significantly reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Plans for the 3,100 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) ships were first announced in 2012, and they will enter service, based in Jacksonville, Florida, in late 2015 and early 2016.
TOTE recently chose two U.S. natural gas companies to supply LNG bunkers for the ships through a joint venture they plan to create in Jacksonville.
