Perla Del Caribe News

JAX LNG and TOTE Complete US' First Renewable LNG Bunkering

JAX LNG, a small-scale LNG facility located along the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Fla., recently completed the first fueling of a marine vessel in the United States with a blend of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable LNG (RLNG).JAX LNG loaded the RLNG/LNG blend into the Clean Jacksonville bunker barge to fuel the Isla Bella. The Isla Bella is the world’s first LNG-powered container ship and was put into service by TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico in 2015. Element Markets supplied the renewable natural gas (RNG) used to produce the RLNG via renewable thermal certificates (RTCs).

TOTE Touts 'LNG-as-Fuel' Experience

Build it and they will come mentality serves TOTE well on ‘world first’ LNG ContainershipsAs the marine industry collectively struggles to find solutions to the mounting mandates to cut emissions, U.S. owner TOTE, which broke ground three years ago with the world’s first LNG-fueled containership, has more than 36 months experience operating almost exclusively on LNG. To date it has been a rousing success.As environmental mandates for ships continue to get stricter, particularly…

LNG as Fuel: TOTE’s Keller Discusses ‘Lessons Learned’

In a recent interview with Peter Keller, Executive Vice President, TOTE, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News discussed lessons learned after three years of experience running two containerships – Isla Bella and Perla del Caribe – on LNG, the world’s first containerships with LNG fueled engines. Built in San Diego at NASSCO, powered by MAN ME-GI dual fuel engines and classed by ABS, Keller discusses ‘lessons learned’ today"When you're dealing with natural gas the safety culture is important. It's cryogenic, you don't want to spill it.

TOTE Maritime Happy with ME-GI Engine

American shipping company, TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, has returned very positive reports on its LNG-powered containerships, ‘Isla Bella’ and ‘Perla del Caribe’ as they approach the third anniversary of commencing operations, said a press release.It said that the 3,100-teu sister ships serve the route between Jacksonville, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico and are notable for being propelled by the first ME-GI dual-fuel engines produced by MAN Energy Solutions.Tim Nolan, President and CEO of TOTE noted: "The relationship between MAN and TOTE has been strong with excellent collaboration from the top level all the way to the engine room, and that continues. TOTE is proud to be an LNG first mover.

North America’s First LNG Bunker Barge Delivered

The first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge to be built in North America has been delivered in Jacksonville, Fla., said U.S. shipbuilder Conrad Industries.The new 2,200 cubic meter bunkering barge, Clean Jacksonville, will service TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico’s LNG-powered Marlin Class containerships, the Isla Bella and Perla del Caribe, which operate between Jacksonville and San Juan, Puerto Rico.The new barge enters operation as the maritime industry increasingly explores…

#SNAME125

Significant moments in naval architecture & marine engineeringOn October 16, 2015, U.S. shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO delivered the world's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containership, Isla Bella, to domestic ship owner and operator TOTE Maritime. The 764-foot-long Isla Bella and its sister ship Perla del Caribe currently serve the Florida-Puerto Rico trade.Today, LNG continues to pick up steam across the industry. In November 2017, French carrier CMA CGM announced that its nine new 22…

LNG: Maritime's Fuel of the Future

The move to LNG as fuel in the maritime sector picks up steam, as CMA CGM announced plans to outfit nine of its new 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG fueled engines. A trend that started in the United States is spreading to the world, as global containershipping giant CMA CGM announced its intention to outfit its series of new 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG-fueled engines. The move to ‘clean fuel’ in the maritime sector has been rapid, spurred by new rules from the International…

World First: LNG to Fuel Largest Containerships

The move to LNG as fuel in the maritime sector picks up steam, as CMA CGM announced plans to outfit nine of its new 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG fueled engines. A trend that started in the United States is spreading to the world, as global containershipping giant CMA CGM announced its intention to outfit its series of new 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG-fueled engines. The move to ‘clean fuel’ in the maritime sector has been rapid, spurred by new rules from the International…

TOTE Shipments to Puerto Rico up 20% since Maria

Since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 19, TOTE Maritime’s vessels have brought cargo to the island nine times delivering more than 7,200 containers of food, water, oxygen, generators and other essential relief and recovery items, along with the island’s regular day to day commercial needs. Through its efforts, TOTE Maritime has supported a 20 percent increase in cargo movement to the island. TOTE Maritime said it is working closely with customers to ensure the most critical items are receiving priority status…

TOTE's Productivity Increases at Port of San Juan

TOTE Maritime continues to see an increase in overall productivity at the Port of San Juan as more and more containers leave the terminal for communities around Puerto Rico. Monday the terminal reached 87 percent productivity with more than 330 loads of relief and commercial goods leaving the terminal. TOTE Maritime has been working closely with a number of partners including the Department of Homeland Security, American Red Cross, FEMA, the Puerto Rican government, the Government’s Elderly Support Team and customers to support their needs as they deliver goods to the island. The TOTE Maritime team in San Juan has been working around the clock to ensure that drivers and customers coming to the terminal are able to access their goods.

FMC's Doyle Weighs in on U.S. Merchant Marine, 2017 Hurricane Relief Efforts

Today's address by FMC commissioner William P.Doyle brought transparency to the massive U.S.-based efforts expended during this hurricane season at the 17th Annual Port Industry Day conference in Jersey City, NJ. Good Morning New York and New Jersey. It’s a great day here in Jersey City. I know that Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao really wanted to attend the 17th Annual Port Industry Day conference today. Even with a long-standing commitment, she tried to make her schedule work. Secretary Chao is a good friend. Before I begin, I want to address this year’s hurricane season. It’s been a tough one – Harvey, Irma and Maria. I am proud of the work performed during the recovery efforts by the U.S. Merchant Marine. The Merchant Marine consists of American mariners serving aboard U.S.

The Top 10 Ships of 2016

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News (www.marinelink.com), published since 1939, annually publishes details on the world’s “Great Ships of the Year.” Of the 18 selected as “Great Ships of 2016,” here we rank the Top 10 Ships of 2016, according to the editors of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News. Why: Second in series of the world’s first LNG powered containerships. Shipyard: Philly Shipyard Inc. Owner  Reliance Industries Ltd. Owner: Arctia Icebreaking Ltd.

Construction Set to Start on Jacksonville LNG Facility

JAX LNG said it has executed the remaining engineering and procurement contracts required to begin construction of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction and storage facility at Dames Point near the Port of Jacksonville. The JAX LNG liquefaction facility is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2017. Once completed, it will be outfitted with a 2 million-gallon storage tank with the capacity to produce in excess of 120,000 gallons of LNG per day. JAX LNG’s Jacksonville plant will be North America’s first small-scale coastal LNG facility and will include marine distribution capabilities utilizing North America’s first LNG bunker barge, Clean Jacksonville. “The LNG industry is seeing a steady growth in demand,” said Tim Hermann, president of Pivotal LNG.

NASSCO Delivers Garden State to APT

Marking its seventh ship delivery in the span of just over a year, General Dynamics NASSCO has delivered the newly built ECO Class tanker Garden State for American Petroleum Tankers. Garden State was delivered during a special signing ceremony and is one of three classes of ships delivered by the San Diego-based shipyard since June of last year. “In the past year, NASSCO shipbuilders have delivered seven ships – or the equivalent to 100,000 tons worth of steel,” said Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager for General Dynamics NASSCO.

NASSCO Delivers Second LNG Containership

Fueled by liquefied natural gas, the Perla Del Caribe will join its sister ship, the Isla Bella, as the greenest containerships in the world. U.S. shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO today delivered the world’s second containership to be operated by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the Perla Del Caribe. The ship was delivered two months ahead of schedule and is the sister ship of the world’s first LNG-powered containership, the Isla Bella, also built by NASSCO for TOTE Maritime. “The Perla Del Caribe and the Isla Bella exemplify world-leading…

NASSCO Makes Three Lead Deliveries in 2015

San Diego based shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO delivered three lead ships in 2015: USNS Lewis B. Puller, the Isla Bella and the Lone Star State. Each vessel represents three new and separate ship classes and highlights the builder’s diverse portfolio of commercial and government contracts, the company said. In June, NASSCO delivered the USNS Lewis B. Puller to the U.S. Navy, the first ship in the Expeditionary Base Mobile (ESB) class. Previously classified as a Mobile Landing Platform Afloat Forward Staging Base (MLP AFSB)…

The Top Five Ships of 2015

Maritime innovation never stops, and 2015 was certainly no exception, as a number of “world firsts” hit the high seas. In its December 2015 edition Maritime Reporter & Engineering News (http://digitalmagazines.marinelink.com/nwm/MaritimeReporter/201512/) presented its “Great Ships of 2015;” MarineLink.com takes the process one step further, and here confer the “Top Five Ships” of 2015. With a gross tonnage of 168,666, somewhat smaller than the world's largest Oasis class vessels, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

LNG Containership Perla Del Caribe Fuels Up

On December 11, General Dynamics NASSCO completed bunkering of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the Perla Del Caribe, the world’s second containership to be powered by LNG. Bunkering services were provided by the California-based company Clean Energy as well as Baker Hughes and Envent during a 48-hour period at the NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. Representatives from NASSCO worked collaboratively with several regulatory agencies to prepare for the event, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the American Bureau of Shipping, the San Diego Fire Department, and the Air Pollution Control District.

US LNG Bunker Barge Nearing Launch Date

North America’s first LNG bunker barge is scheduled to be launched in February of 2016, Clean Marine Energy LLC (CME) announced following a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) hosted tour at Conrad Shipyard in Orange, Texas. Roughly 200 industry partners participated in the tour in conjunction with the USCG Liquefied Gas Senior Executive Forum held at USCG Sector Houston on December 9. The 2,200 cubic meter barge hull construction is near complete and abrasive blasting and painting is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.

Clean Energy Bunkers Isla Bella with LNG

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. participated in a little history last month when it supported General Dynamics (GD) NASSCO’s launch of the Isla Bella container ship, the first of its kind to operate on LNG fuel. Clean Energy provided bunkering services and fuel from its Boron, CA liquefaction plant for the GD NASSCO-built cargo ship, which was delivered to TOTE Maritime in San Diego. Clean Energy will also be providing bunkering services next month to the second GD NASSCO-built ship, the Perla Del Caribe. “As the maritime industry begins its transition to LNG, Clean Energy is able to bring our many years of fueling services to ensure an easy and seamless transition,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, president and CEO of Clean Energy.

First LNG Containership Transits the Panama Canal

The world’s first LNG-powered container vessel, TOTE Maritime’s Isla Bella, transited the Panama Canal October 30, marking a milestone not only for the maritime industry, but also for the Canal as it nears the completion of its expansion scheduled to open in 2016, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced. The 3,100 TEU capacity, 764-foot-long American-flagged Isla Bella is the first of two Marlin Class containerships contracted by TOTE Maritime and built by General Dynamics NASSCO.

LNG-fueled Box Ship a 'Momentous Step Forward'

On Saturday, August 29, 2015, the world’s first series of energy efficient containerships welcomed its second LNG-powered vessel in San Diego, fueling the U.S. maritime industry with cutting edge economic and environmental efficiencies powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). “The launch of Perla del Caribe marks a momentous step forward for the future of U.S. maritime, using green technology to ensure the products we deliver are transported safely and efficiently, all while using the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation…

TOTE’s 2nd LNG Containership Launched

Shipping company TOTE and shipbuilder NASSCO on Saturday launched Perla del Caribe, the second of two Marlin Class ships – the first containerships in the world to be powered by natural gas. The christening and launch ceremony took place at General Dynamics NASSCO’s shipyard in San Diego. The 764-foot-long Perla del Caribe and sister ship, christened Isla Bella, are Jones Act vessels built for the Puerto Rican trade for TOTE Shipholdings and will be operated by TOTE subsidiary Sea Star Line out of Jacksonville, Fla.