04NOV2019 - NEWS - Vard Marine completes design of large LNG bunker tanker

Vard Marine Inc., a Fincantieri company, announced the completion of a concept design of a new 5,400 cu m LNG bunker tanker for construction at its sister company Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.

The bunker tanker is being designed for Polaris New Energy’s bunkering operations that will support LNG fuelled ships in the east coast of the US.

Construction of the LNG bunker tanker is expected to be completed in November 2021.

The bunker tanker will be fitted with four 1,350 cu m IMO Type C tanks, utilising a cargo handling system developed by Wartsila. The bunker tanker will use cargo handling equipment for continuous cargo conditioning and to provide multiple levels of redundancy to maintain the LNG cargo’s pressure and temperature.

Vard Marine is currently developing a classification design package for the review and approval by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the United States Coast Guard.

Vard Marine said the project plays a key role in strengthening bunkering capability in the US to provide LNG as a marine fuel to domestic and foreign LNG fuelled vessels operating in US ports. It will be the largest capacity LNG Jones Act bunker tanker designed and built to date.