Page 89: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2012)

November 2012www.marinelink.com 89New Multipurpose LNG ATB Concept ABS granted approval in principle (AIP) to a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) and regasification articulated tug barge concept introduced by Waller Ma- rine Inc. The vessel has the ability to load LNG from existing LNG terminals, liq- uefaction facilities, or traditional LNG carriers and transport the LNG to exist- ing tanks, traditional LNG carriers,trucks, or marine vessels using LNG as a fuel. The barge also is equipped for regasifi- cation of LNG directly to a pipeline or toa power plant. An additional feature will be the use of natural gas as a fuel in the dual fuel engines of the tug to drive the tug-barge unit. ?ABS has been a great resource in de- veloping the LNG ATB RV product,? says Vice president- Gas Solutions Bill Hutchins, Waller Marine. ?By conduct- ing multiple meetings ? including aHAZID (hazard identification) ? ABS has helped us to ensure safety and regu- latory aspects have been appropriately addressed.? The benefit of the LNG Articulated Tug and Barge Regas Vessel (ATB RV) is that it allows LNG to be moved and delivered more efficiently on a small-scale basis in locations where large LNG infrastructure would be cumbersome, costly, and time consuming. The barge will be fitted with independ- ent Type ?C? LNG tanks. To make most efficient use of the hull volume and max- imize the cargo-carrying capacity of the barge, bi-lobe tanks of maximum width are centered along the barge centerline. The cargo containment system is split into four longitudinally located inde-pendent tanks, with each tank supportedby a simple structure that isolates thetanks from hull loads. According to Waller Marine, these tanks will be con- structed of either 9% nickel steel or Stainless Steel AISI 304L to contain the cargo at a minimum temperature of -163° C. Since AIP was granted, Waller Marine has moved into the detail design phase with a goal of creating multiple variations for clients around the world. VT Halter Delivers ATB for Bouchard VT Halter Marine, Inc. delivered the 112-ft. ATB Offshore Tug, Evening Star, for Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., a tug similar to others built for Bouchard in previous years by Halter Marine. Measuring 112 x 35 x 17 ft., the 4,000-hp tug is classed by ABS as A1 Towing Vessel, Dual Mode, and is equipped with an Intercon Coupler System. Construc-tion of the vessel began in June 2011 at VT Halter Marine?s Moss Point Marine facility in Escatawpa, Miss. Upon deliv- ery, the Evening Star will enter into Bouchard?s fleet service in New York, N.Y. ?Bouchard Transportation Co, Inc. is pleased to have taken delivery of another well built VT Halter Marine tug boat,? Morton S. Bouchard III, President/CEO,Bouchard Transportation, in a prepared statement. ?Bouchard enjoys a 30-year- old relationship with Halter, who has continuously built vessels that meet and exceed Bouchard standards. The Evening Star will be pinned to the newly built B.No.250 and operate on the East Coast.Bouchard looks forward to future suc- cessful building programs with VT Halter Marine in the near future.? MR#11 (82-89):MR Template 11/6/2012 9:34 AM Page 89