Page 42: of Marine News Magazine (March 2022)

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Vessels

LNG Bunker Barges the second Jones Act- compliant bunker barge

Shell has under a time charter in the U.S. Serv- ing the U.S. East Coast, it will be used to help ex- pand current LNG net- work capacity and meet demands for cleaner en-

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Centerline Logistics ergy sources for ships.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding announced it has started U.S. marine petroleum transportation company Cen- construction on the largest lique? ed natural gas (LNG) terline Logistics has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with bunkering barge ever built in the U.S. The newbuild, ex- naval architecture and marine engineering ? rm Vard pected to be completed in late 2023, is being built for Marine to develop a customized 6,000-cubic-meter-

Crowley, the largest independent operator of tank vessels capacity articulated tug and barge (ATB) LNG bunker in the U.S., who will operate the vessel under a long-term barge. Aiming to meet the shipping industry’s growing charter with Shell NA LNG, LLC. Bay Shipbuilding an- need for LNG bunkering, the Jones Act-compliant ATB nounced it won the contract to build the barge in Septem- barge will be designed to navigate U.S. and International ber. The 416-foot vessel, which will have the capacity for waters and to provide LNG refueling to a variety of ships 12,000 cubic meters (3.17 million gallons) of LNG, will as well as call at terminals. The barge is expected to enter be the largest Jones Act-compliant vessel of its kind, and service in 2024.

Charles Hughes

Baltimore-based Vane Brothers announced it has taken delivery of the ? nal boat in a series of four 3,000-horse- power Salisbury Class push tugs. Named the Charles

Hughes, Vane’s newest addition is the 20th Maryland-built towing vessel to join Vane Brothers’ ? eet since 2008.

Designed and constructed by Chesapeake Shipbuild- ing Shipbuilders and Naval Architects of Salisbury, Md.,

Vane’s Salisbury Class push tugs have a molded depth of only 10.5 feet, making them well suited for working in con? ned, shallow-draft waterways. The Charles Hughes’ operational area is the Northeast United States.

The Charles Hughes’ three sister tugs, the Salisbury,

Vane Brothers

Annapolis and Rock Hall, were delivered in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Along with providing exceptional Salisbury Class push tugs comply with federally mandated, crew comfort, reliability and operational ef? ciency, all four U.S Coast Guard-enforced Subchapter M safety standards.

42 | MN March 2022