Phil Morrell News

Seaspan Shipyards demonstrates its capabilities with liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel engine conversions in the wake of a major project milestone. Victoria Shipyards (VSL) was selected by TOTE Maritime Alaska to carry out the yard production work and docking necessary for the conversion of their two TOTE Orca class vessels to dual-fuel systems, a process which is being carried out in four phases and will enable the two ships to use LNG as fuel. The ‘North Star’, the first of the two 839-foot-long roll-on, roll-off cargo ships which carry cargo between Anchorage, Alaska, and Tacoma, Washington, arrived at VSL in December, 2017 kicking off the process of converting the diesel engines to dual-fuel systems.

Late last month, NASSCO engineers placed the world’s first dual-fuel slow speed engine into the World’s First Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) powered containership. The ME-GI engine represents the next generation of technology that will open the door to a cleaner and safer shipping industry, particularly in the United States. Doosan Engine built the 8L70ME-C8.2GI under license from the designer MAN Diesel and Turbo. The engine weighs 539 tons. TOTE Shipholdings, Inc., a subsidiary of TOTE, is the first company to use these engines in their vessels.

Acting Maritime Administrator, Paul “Chip” Jaenichen will open the “Winds of Change in Shipping” conference being hosted by NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) in Houston along with the WGMA (West Gulf Maritime Association) on February 19, 2014. The next day, February 20th, NAMEPA is partnering with NOIA (National Ocean Industries Association) to present the “Winds of Change in Offshore Oil and Gas”. Adding even more luster to this period is the inaugural Lloyd’s List North American Awards Dinner on February 19th, where winners of 17 categories will be presented.

EPA and USCG facilitate a move by Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) to convert its vessels to alternative fuels. Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) has received a permit providing a conditional waiver from the current Emissions Control Area (ECA) fuel sulfur content requirements of MARPOL Annex VI regulation 14.4 while the company pursues conversion of its vessels to alternative fuels. The permit was issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) under authority provided in Regulation 3 of Annex VI.

Legendary maritime and Pierce County community leader, Robert P. Magee, was honored September 21, 2011 with the naming of Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc’s Tacoma terminal in his memory. The Robert P. Magee Terminal dedication ceremony at Port of Tacoma was attended by about 150 industry and community leaders, extended family members, TOTE customers and employees who gathered to pay tribute to a man many described as visionary. After Bob’s death in November 2009, TOTE employees rallied around the idea of honoring Bob’s memory with a tribute.

Nearly $1.5m in grant money recently awarded to the Port of Tacoma will empower Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. (TOTE) to reduce the particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions of its two Orca Class vessels by an estimated 90 percent while at TOTE’s Tacoma terminal. The emissions reduction will be the end result of the Port of Tacoma adding 600,000 volt electrical maritime power at the terminal and TOTE retrofitting both vessels with electrical power plug-ins. This will allow the ships to turn their engines off while docked, eliminating at-berth diesel idling. Each vessel calls on the Port of Tacoma one time per week for about 12 hours.