Americas News
LNG Bunker Developments "Moving Fast in North America"
Prospects for the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkers in Canada are improving, as vessel owners and regulators work on issues surrounding the fuel while prices remain attractive, Nick Brown, marine communications manager at Lloyd's Register, wrote in a recent blog post.
Brown writes that Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) is pushing hard to put new gas-fuelled ferries into service.
"Things are moving fast in North America and, although, STQ are first in Canada, I am sure there will be a lot more LNG as fuel news coming out of there soon," he wrote.
"All the drivers and plans to make it happen are evolving fast – regulatory, logistically, pricewise: it's all looking good."
Regulatory agency Transport Canada has been working to streamline adoption of the fuel, and the availability and low price of natural gas in Canada makes it attractive to traders.
STQ, which recently selected Gaz Métro LNG as the fuel provider for the new LNG-powered ferries, ordered the vessels from Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani and Chantier Davie Canada Inc. (Davie).
"The ships being built at Davie will operate on the Tadoussac – Baie St. Catherine route at the mouth of the Saguenay River, where blue whales congregate and belugas breed in the krill rich fjordlike conditions," Brown wrote.
"Environmental concerns are an absolute priority and the short ferry crossing enables a road journey of over 250km to be avoided."
