Conrad Industries Inc. has delivered the 232'x48'8"x15'8" Clean Jacksonville, the first LNG bunker barge constructed in North America. The Clean Jacksonville was built in Orange, Texas, at Conrad Orange Shipyard. The successful gas trial execution took place in Port Fourchon, La.
The barge will enter service for TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico at the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT), Fla., where it will bunker two LNG-fueled Marlin-class containerships that operate between Jacksonville and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Isla Bella and Perla Del Caribe, the two 3,100-TEU Marlin-class vessels, were built General Dynamics NASSCO, San Diego. The ships were delivered in late 2015 and early 2016.
Bristol Harbor Group, Bristol, R.I., handled the design and engineering of the barge, with help from Conrad and GTT, the French company that developed the LNG cryogenic membrane containment technology used for the project. Conrad has exclusive rights to GTT membrane technology in North America. The new barge also features a bunker mast design, called REACH4, which was developed by GTT for simple and safe LNG transfer to ships.
“It is the first time the GTT membrane system has been installed in a non-self-propelled barge in the U.S.," Johnny Conrad, president and CEO of Conrad Industries, said in a statement announcing the delivery. "It is the first time an LNG bunker mast of this type has been built. The list goes on.”
The Shearer Group, Houston, a sister company to BHGI, provided technical/shipyard support during construction. BHGI served as the regulatory lead and liaison between the regulatory bodies. During the early stages of the design, BHGI participated in a HAZID/HAZOP workshop as well as a Waterway Sustainability Study and a Waterway Sustainability Risk Assessment which were the first steps towards obtaining USCG approval. Being a first-of-a-kind vessel, the designers worked with all parties involved throughout the process to obtain ABS and USCG approvals.
“The broad collaboration between TOTE, Conrad, the myriad project stakeholders, and U.S. regulators led to the successful design, construction, and commissioning of this unique and groundbreaking project,” said Philippe Berterottiere, chairman and CEO of GTT.
