Jax LNG and Seaside LNG recently conducted the inaugural LNG bunkering in the Port of Savannah of ‘CMA CGM Symi’ during the ship’s call at the Garden City Terminal.
The CMA CGM Symi is a 15,000-TEU container ship which received approximately 4,600m3 of LNG from North America’s largest LNG articulated tug and barge (ATB), the Clean Canaveral, during simultaneous operations (Simops).
Roger Williams, Manager Jax LNG and VP Commercial LNG and Gas Development at BHE GT&S, the parent company of Pivotal LNG, said: “We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside CMA CGM staff in Marseille, Norfolk and Savannah in preparation for this unique bunker event that marked CMA CGM’s first LNG Simops bunkering of a 15,000-TEU ship in the United States.”
The bunkering marks Seaside LNG’s first bunkering of a dual-fuel container ship with membrane-type LNG tank technology, highlighting the efficient design of Seaside LNG’s 5,500m3 series LNG ATB.
Tim Casey, CEO Seaside LNG, said: “The ATB design and skilful operator, McAllister LNG Services, has proven very resourceful to bunker container ships, car carriers, cruise ships and petroleum tankers with different cargo tank technologies.”
This inaugural bunkering marked several collaborative milestones and continues to demonstrate the viability of LNG as a marine fuel in the US. This safe and successful bunkering was said to be a credit to the support and coordination of Savannah Port Stakeholders including US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Savannah, Georgia Ports Authority, Garden City Fire Rescue, Savannah Fire Department, Savannah Pilots Association, Gateway Terminals and the International Longshoremen’s Association.
Jax LNG is a joint venture between Seaside LNG and Pivotal LNG, a subsidiary of BHE GT&S, operating a 360,000 gallon per day LNG plant with 4m gallons of storage located in Jacksonville. Jax LNG has access to two Jones Act LNG bunker barges, the Clean Canaveral and Clean Everglades, to serve multiple customers in various ports in the southeast US.
Pivotal LNG provides LNG production, transportation and delivery services, and owns and operates the Towanda LNG facility in Pennsylvania and the Trussville LNG facility in Alabama. It has 50% ownership of the Jax LNG facility in Florida.
Seaside LNG provides LNG production and maritime transportation logistics to meet the growing demand for LNG, and owns 50% of Jax LNG. It has a 100% stake in an LNG bunkering barge operation through Polaris New Energy (PNE), the bunkering arm of Seaside LNG, which maintains the largest fleet of Jones Act-compliant bunkering vessels in the US.
Image: ‘CMA CGM Symi’ takes on LNG bunkers (credit: Georgia Ports Authority / Sea-LNG)
