McAllister Towing LNG Services LLC has announced that it will be serving as technical manager for the Polaris New Energy LNG bunkering operation in Florida. McAllister will operate the Articulated Tug Barge Polaris/Clean Canaveral Polaris New Energy.
The ATB will be made up of the 4,000-hp tug Polaris and the 5,500 cubic meter capacity, 340'x66'x32'10" barge Clean Canaveral. The tug and barge will be connected with a JAK 400 coupling system. (No addition specs concerning the tug were made available.)
Master Boat Builders, Coden, Ala., is building the new tug and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding is constructing the barge. Polaris New Energy is building the ATB for coastwise transportation of LNG and to deliver LNG as a clean maritime transportation fuel.
Capt. Steven Kress, vice president of operations for McAllister believes that this endeavor further demonstrates McAllister’s commitment to safeguard the environment by expanding upon its LNG experience in Cove Point, Md., and Jacksonville, Fla.
“We are honored that Polaris New Energy has recognized McAllister’s reputation for quality and safety, through our robust QSM system,” Kress said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to operating this brand-new ATB, safely and efficiently servicing Polaris’s customers.”
The new barge will be fitted with four 1,350 cubic meter IMO Type C tanks. It will utilize a cargo handling system designed and developed by Wartsila and classed by ABS.
Marino Hwang has been named general manager of McAllister Towing LNG Services. Capt. Hwang, marine compliance manager for McAllister Towing, has more than 20 years of experience in marine transportation and has held various leadership roles at K-Sea Transportation and Kirby Offshore Marine before joining McAllister.
“It is a tremendous privilege to partner with Polaris New Energy and its affiliated companies to manage and operate the Polaris/Clean Canaveral,” Hwang said. “LNG is a clean fuel alternative and its use as a marine fuel is expanding. McAllister is equipped and ready to be a part of this emerging industry.”
Polaris New Energy is the marine bunkering subsidiary of Seaside LNG Holdings, a subsidiary of Northstar Holdco Energy focused on the production and delivery of LNG as a clean transportation fuel. Northstar is a diversified logistics company providing services to the North American energy industry.
“We are excited to work with McAllister Towing because, as one of the oldest marine transportation companies in the U.S., they bring a tradition for providing unsurpassed operational excellence,” Tom Sullivan, chief operating officer for Seaside LNG Holdings, said. “We look to strengthen our strategic partnership with McAllister as we continue to develop our position in the market by adding additional ATBs to our fleet and expanding to all coasts of the United States.”
Polaris will be sourcing LNG from JAX LNG, Jacksonville, Fla., created through a partnership between Northstar and Pivotal LNG.
