Page 63: of Marine News Magazine (November 2015)

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PROPULSION sons. According to Marad, the towboat to be converted is A National Maritime Strategy at Work the M/V Ron Chris, owned by Walden Industries. Marad Chief Paul “Chip” Jaenichen told MarineNews

A separate cooperative agreement will provide Interlake in October, “The Pittsburgh region submitted an applica-

Steamship Company (Interlake) of Ohio $500,000 to ret- tion to put LNG on an inland towboat. That’s the ? rst ro? t the M/V Lee Tregurtha, which operates on the Great opportunity to do that, so we did fund that particular

Lakes, with exhaust gas-scrubber technology. This modi? ca- project. The advantage of that is that we get the ‘before tion will signi? cantly reduce sulfur emissions and meet or ex- and after’ data, which is what we really want. In that same ceed North American Emissions Control Area requirements announcement Interlake was also given a $500,000 grant for the 800-foot, bulk-cargo vessel. Interlake will provide that supported scrubber technology installation and we

MARAD with pre- and post-installation air emissions data, did partner with SOCP on this. And, we’re going to get and lessons learned on scrubber installation and operation. before and after data from that, as well.”

Separately, still another Marad $900,000 cooperative Underscoring Marad’s efforts to promote the U.S. ? ag agreement with Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) merchant ? eet, Jaenichen touched upon one of the ? ve pil- will allow for the development of knowledge regarding the lars of his nascent “National Maritime Strategy” – namely, costs and bene? ts of vessel conversions to lique? ed natural the need to spur innovation on the waterfront. He ex- gas (LNG) propulsion. Tote will convert the containership plained, “These efforts are designed to spur innovation and

M/V Midnight Sun to operate on LNG, a demonstration in these cases, the government can assume some of the risk project that is part of yet another ongoing program to pro- for commercial entities as they move forward. Will it hap- mote increased use of alternative fuels and technology in pen if the government doesn’t get involved? The answer is the maritime industry. yes. But, if we do get involved, it helps it to happen sooner.” 63 www.marinelink.com MN

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