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Transportation Fuel News

20 Oct 2021

Seaspan Ferries to Run Its Vessels on Renewable Natural Gas

(Photo: Seaspan Ferries)

This week, Seaspan Ferries Corporation became the first Canadian marine company to pilot the use of renewable natural gas (RNG) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by its roll-on, roll-off liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered marine fleet. Seaspan expects that data from the pilot will confirm that, by using RNG, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by upwards of 85% versus traditional diesel fuel.Seaspan has worked closely with FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) to secure a source of certified carbon neutral RNG.“Renewable natural gas…

04 Oct 2021

Stonepeak to Buy Teekay LNG in $6.2 Billion Deal

(File photo: Teekay LNG)

Investment firm Stonepeak said on Monday it would buy Teekay LNG Partners in a deal worth $6.2 billion, as it looks to take advantage of rising global demand for LNG amid a push towards cleaner sources of energy.Prices of the benchmark U.S. natural gas contract have been on the rise, hitting seven-year highs recently. On Monday, the front-month gas futures contract was up 6.3% at $5.97 per million British thermal units (mmBtu).Stonepeak is offering $17 per unit, which represents a premium of 8.3% to the closing price of Teekay LNG's common units on Oct.

18 Aug 2021

GEG, Proman to Build Renewables-to-Methanol Plant at Nigg Oil Terminal

Credit: Malcolm McCurrach | New Wave Images UK

UK-based Global Energy Group and Swiss-based integrated energy company, Proman have partnered up to develop a renewable power to methanol plant using local sources of captured CO2 to be located at the Nigg Oil Terminal in the Highlands of Scotland.GEG is also the owner of the Nigg Oil Terminal and Proman is the second-largest methanol producer in the world-GEG said that the development of an industrial-scale renewable power to methanol production facility with CO2 to be provided from local industrial sources will be known as the “Cromarty Clean Fuels Project“.

27 Jul 2021

McAllister to Operate ATB for Polaris New Energy LNG Bunkering Ops

A line drawing of ATB Polaris/Clean Canaveral. Source: McAllister

McAllister Towing LNG Services, LLC will serve as technical manager for the Polaris New Energy LNG bunkering operation in Florida, operating the Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) Polaris/Clean Canaveral for Polaris New Energy. “We are excited to work with McAllister Towing because, as one of the oldest marine transportation companies in the US, they bring a tradition for providing unsurpassed operational excellence," said Tom Sullivan, COO, Seaside LNG Holdings, the parent company of Polaris New Energy.

29 Sep 2019

Iran Acts Upon IMO 2020

According to notices given by international organizations to Iran by January 1st, all Iranian vessels must use low-sulfur fuel, otherwise they may face many consequences.Jalil Eslami, the Deputy Director of Maritime Affairs of Ports & Maritime Organization (PMO). warned: "As a sovereign body, we are obliged to declare the necessities of using low sulfur fuel and international issues, and in this regard all the necessary actions have been taken. Therefore, within the time-frame notified to all Iranian vessels, they should use low Sulfur fuel by January 1, 2020."Numerous meetings have been held between the Ports and Maritime Organization…

18 Sep 2019

Qatar, Shell Partner on LNG Bunkering

State-owned Qatar Petroleum and the Netherlands-based oil and gas company Shell signed a shareholder agreement to establish a joint venture for global LNG bunkering services.The agreement signed by Qatar Petroleum’s Wave LNG Solutions and Shell Gas & Power Developments B.V. paves the way for the establishment of a joint venture company owned equally by both parties, subject to customary regulatory approvals.The new company’s principal business activities will include the procurement of LNG, setting up LNG bunkering infrastructure (storage and bunker vessels) at various strategic locations around the world, and facilitating the sale of LNG as a marine fuel to end customers around the world.Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi…

19 Aug 2019

Seabulk Completes First Methanol Shipment

Seabulk Tankers, a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings, has announced the successful delivery of its first methanol parcel chemical shipment aboard the articulated tug-barge (“ATB”) Sea-Power/Sea-Chem I.The Sea-Power/Sea-Chem I loaded a 10,500 metric ton methanol parcel in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and discharged the parcel in Charleston, South Carolina and Chesapeake, Virginia. The vessel can load up to 30,000 metric tons of cargo into eleven segregations and is equipped with stainless steel cargo piping and MarineLINE 784 cargo tank coating. She is one of the most modern, fuel efficient, and capable chemical parcel vessels in the Jones Act fleet today.Methanol is a liquid chemical produced from conventional fossil sources as well as sustainable raw materials like biomass…

16 Jul 2019

IMO2020: The Rise of Bulk Liquid Hydrogen in Norway

Imagine a power distribution network where excess renewable energy from hydropower, wind, solar, and nuclear energy is converted to hydrogen and used as transportation fuel in the maritime industry. With the allure of a zero emissions fuel, a number of ship owners are starting to seriously consider hydrogen for newly built vessels. As a bold first step, the country of Norway has provided a number of grants to leading maritime companies to conduct feasibility studies into various aspects of this emerging technology sector. Central to this discussion is “how” hydrogen will be transported from its source to end-users.Norwegian based companies…

06 Feb 2019

Titan LNG, Fluxys to Build FlexFueler 002

Belgium-based natural gas transmission system operator Fluxys and Netherlands-based Titan LNG have joined forces to build the FlexFueler 002, a bunkering pontoon to make liquefied natural gas (LNG) more widely available as shipping fuel in the Antwerp port and region.Shipyard Kooiman, Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands, was contracted to build the FlexFueler 002. The pontoon, which is scheduled to be commissioned by mid-2020, will measure 76.4 x 11.45 m and is equipped with four vacuum insulated type C cargo tanks of 370 cu. m. each, to carry liquid LNG. The pontoon is not self propelled but for assistance in maneuvering a bow thruster is installed.

05 Feb 2019

Global LPG Prices Decline: Dorian LPG

The biggest market change in the fourth calendar quarter of 2018, was the decline in crude oil prices, with Brent falling from a monthly average of nearly $82/barrel in October, finishing the year below $51 per barrel. As a result, global  liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)prices followed the downward trend.Dorian LPG, the Stamford-based owner and operator of 22 very-large gas carriers, said that without the additional LPG cargoes out of Marcus Hook from Mariner East 2, which started operations in January 2019, U.S. exports remained similar to the third calendar quarter of 2018, if not slightly lower.Total LPG exports from the U.S. are estimated at 32.8 million metric tons for the full year, up nearly 10% year-over-year.

10 Aug 2018

Seaborne LPG Trade Rebounds: Dorian LPG

Seaborne LPG trade rebounded in the second calendar quarter of 2018 thanks to heavy lifting schedules in the Middle East and the United States, as well as an improvement in arbitrage economics towards the end of the three-month period, said Dorian LPG.After a lackluster first calendar quarter of 2018, exports from the United States peaked at approximately 2.7 million metric tons in May 2018, and total U.S. exports for the first half of 2018 were 4% higher as compared to the same period in 2017.Appetite for LPG in the East remained strong throughout the second calendar quarter of 2018 due to robust consumption within both the retail and petrochemical markets.

31 Dec 2017

Adoption of LNG as Marine Fuel Significantly Accelerated in 2017

Titan LNG says that the stage has been set for a push in the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel beyond the tipping point. The order book for LNG-powered ships grew substantially, the LNG bunkering infrastructure is maturing and the pricing of LNG has become structurally competitive versus MGO. In 2017 around 11% of all new build contracts were LNG powered ships, a trend that we expect to continue during 2018. Titan LNG is very pleased with these developments and we are proud to be at the forefront of this market. LNG Truck-to-Ship bunkering, and from next year on with our LNG bunkering pontoon, the FlexFueler 001 makes LNG readily available, therewith paving the way for more orders of LNG powered vessel.

31 Jul 2017

LPG Shipping Faces Rough Weather

After reaching record levels during the first four months of 2017, U.S. LPG export cargoes have seen a number of cancellations or deferments in June and July, said Dorian LPG in a press statement. Steady domestic demand has kept U.S. propane prices firm and, therefore, priced above levels conducive to the arbitrage trade. U.S. propane inventories have continued to build in recent weeks and could reach levels of 75 million barrels by the end of September 2017. The overall U.S. exports at the half-year mark remain at similar levels to 2016 due to the cancelled cargo volumes from the U.S., driven by waning Far East demand caused by seasonal factors and high inventories.

02 May 2016

Transport via Northern European ports more sustainable

On the European continent, the Alps form a natural barrier for international transport. Containers can be transported to Southern Germany, the Czech Republic or Poland cheaper as well as more sustainably via North European ports than via Southern European ports. This is despite the fact that the container ships between Asia and Europe always take the Suez Canal with the ensuing shorter sailing route to southern ports such as Koper, Constanta and Genoa. Research by Panteia into the environmental footprint logistics chains in Europe proves this. Panteia also has identified opportunities for making the transport more sustainable. Allard Castelein…

19 Feb 2016

Sinopec Plant Resumes Diesel Export after Blasts

A Sinopec Corp -operated refinery in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin resumed exporting diesel this month after a five-month halt following massive explosions in the port area, a Sinopec-run industry paper reported on Friday. Sinopec's unit, Tianjin Petrochemical Corp, loaded 26,800 tonnes (200,000 barrels) of diesel in early February for export, the first such shipment since last August after the blasts led to a halt in fuel exports as the government tightened safety measures, China Petrochemical News said. In August, two huge explosions had ripped through an industrial area in Tianjin where toxic chemicals and gas were stored, killing at least 50 people.

29 Jan 2016

Dorian LPG Post 3Q 2016 Profit

Dorian LPG Ltd. a leading owner and operator of modern very large gas carriers, today reported its financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2015. John Hadjipateras, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The third quarter was an extremely busy period for Dorian as we took the delivery of seven new Eco-design VLGCs. Our cash flow generated from operations has allowed us to repurchase an additional 480,231 shares of our common stock for $5.8 million over the quarter under the board's previously announced authorization to repurchase up to $100 million on or before December 31, 2016. Going forward, we anticipate higher profits and cash generated from operations as a result of our larger fleet, assuming continued favorable market conditions.

05 Jan 2015

As Interest in LNG Surges, Regulators Struggle to Keep Pace

Joan M. Bondareff

The use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a transportation fuel for ships, barges and ferries has surged in recent months. This surge is due, in large part, to the boon in the production of natural gas in the U.S.; new low sulfur rules for the North American Emission Control Area (ECA), which go into effect on January 1, 2015; and new technologies for the construction of engines capable of running on LNG. Regulatory regimes both in the U.S. and worldwide are struggling to keep pace with the tremendous growth of LNG as a fuel.

07 Oct 2014

'Fantasy Fuel': Novozymes Looks to the Future

When Denmark's Novozymes first wondered in 2000 how its mass-produced enzymes could be used to make advanced biofuel, the industry did not exist and only now is the fruit of its labour emerging after years of being lampooned as a "fantasy fuel". But as commercial production of transportation fuel made from plant waste rather than valuable corn finally starts in the United States, Brazil and Europe, Novozymes has already turned its gaze towards bioplastics and even diapers. With the biofuels sector waging a drawn-out regulatory battle with 'Big Oil' over potentially damaging cuts to biofuel targets in the United States, Novozymes says it has contingency plans.

21 Aug 2014

LNG America Selects Topside Designer for LNG Bunker Barge

Image: LNG America

LNG America has selected Taylor-Wharton to commence the front-end engineering and design work for the cryogenic topside of the company’s 3,000 cubic meter Gemini Class LNG bunker barge scheduled for delivery at the end of 2015. “Taylor-Wharton has been actively engaged in the development process and instrumental in helping to develop the critical path time line for a late 2015 in-service date,” said Keith Meyer, CEO of LNG America. The LNG bunker vessels will provide a critical building block in the bridge between the natural gas industry and the global marine industry…

14 May 2014

White House Honors Chiarello for LNG Efforts

TOTE President and CEO Anthony Chiarello (left) with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx

TOTE, Inc. President and CEO Anthony Chiarello is among 11 honored by the White House as 2014 transportation industry “Champions of Change.” Chiarello was chosen for his role in leading the U.S. maritime industry toward natural gas as fuel. TOTE is building the first natural gas-powered containerships in the world to serve Puerto Rico and is converting its ships in Alaska to natural gas; TOTE is the first in the United States to convert its fleet to liquefied natural gas (LNG).

06 Feb 2014

Pivotal LNG, WesPac to Fuel TOTE’s LNG Containerships

Image courtesy of TOTE

Pivotal LNG, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources, and WesPac Midstream LLC announced they have been selected by TOTE, Inc. to provide liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel TOTE’s two new state-of-the-art container ships in Jacksonville, Fla. TOTE’s new dual fuel LNG container ships are expected to be delivered to the port in Jacksonville in late 2015 and early 2016. To move forward on this project, Pivotal LNG, Inc., WesPac and TOTE have signed a letter of intent and are working toward definitive agreements. While there is still work to be done, Pivotal LNG, Inc.

19 Nov 2013

Joint Venture Advances Canadian LNG Market

Ferus Natural Gas Fuels and ENN Canada Corporation announced a Joint Venture to construct, own and operate two LNG liquefaction plants in Canada. The plants will be strategically located in Vancouver, British Columbia and Edmonton, Alberta to service the on-road trucking market as well as other high-horsepower applications including marine, rail, mining and oil and gas exploration. “The benefits of fueling with natural gas are significant”, said Henry Cai, CEO of ENN Canada. "These projects will help build the market for clean burning natural gas as a transportation fuel,” said Ken Hughes, Alberta’s Energy Minister. The partnership brings together two major players in the North American natural gas fueling market.

30 Oct 2013

First US Big Ship LNG Bunkering Terminal Proposed

LNG liquefaction plant: Photo credit CLNG

A partnership including Calgary-based Ferus Natural Gas Fuels has unveilled plans to build in Florida the first U.S. terminal to supply liquefied natural gas as fuel for cargo ships, reports 'The Calgary Herald'. The Eagle LNG partnership was announced in September 2013, and includes Ferus, General Electric Co. and Clean Energy Fuels Corp., the transportation-fuel company co-founded by billionare investor T. Boone Pickens; all  three are equal equity partners in the project. Citing Ferus chief executive Dick Brown…