Shell Launches Gulf of Mexico's First LNG Offshore Supply Vessel

The Harvey Energy will serve the company's deep water operations.

Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) has launched the Gulf of Mexico's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) offshore supply vessel, the company announced in an email statement. 

The Harvey Energy, chartered from Harvey Gulf International Marine, will serve the company's deep water operations, which include's the company's Olympus production platform 

According to Shell, it is the "first of its kind" in the region to be powered by both LNG and diesel, with two more ships expected to follow. 

"Shell is delighted to be the customer of this innovative vessel," said John Hollowell, executive vice-president of deep water for Shell Upstream Americas. 

"Shell's investment underlines our confidence in LNG becoming a bigger part of the global fuel mix."

The Harvey Energy will run on 99 percent LNG, said the company, and is able to operate for around seven days without refueling. 

The ship's LNG supply will come from Harvey Gulf's LNG bunkering facility at Port Fourchon in Louisiana.

The Harvey Energy and her sister ships exemplify Harvey Gulf's commitment to Shell and our customers to bring the best available environmentally friendly technology to the market," said Harvey Gulf CEO Shane Guidry. 

"We understand the environmental regulatory issues facing our customers and this new build program's focus has been to work closely with them to address and mitigate these issues."

Last year it was reported that Asian shipbuilders were locked in competition to build another Shell vessel, a 6,500-tonne LNG bunkering ship.