MEBA & Armada Companies Form Offshore Terminal Lightering Partnership

The Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.) has signed an agreement with Armada Companies, LLC to provide Person-In-Charge (PIC) marine officers for liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater ports and other terminals worldwide.

Armada has a contract with Skaugen Petro Trans (SPT) Offshore, LLC to provide U.S.-citizen merchant officers supplied by M.E.B.A. to serve as PICs at terminals including the liquefied natural gas deepwater port in the Gulf of Mexico and the new deepwater port under construction off Gloucester, Massachusetts.

PICs serve as a deepwater port operator's representative and are normally stationed aboard vessels during cargo operations. These highly skilled officers must be familiar with deepwater port operations, emergency and security procedures. PICs are also responsible for coordinating gas discharge operations between the Energy Bridge Regasification Vessels (EBRV), ports, pipeline operators and other downstream interests. They also monitor cargo transfer operations, disconnection, maneuvering off STL Buoys and maintain communications between the offshore port and the port managers. Under the terms of the agreement, M.E.B.A. will also supply marine officers for liquefied natural gas ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations.

Construction commenced this week on Excelerate Energy's Northeast Gateway deepwater port. The new port, which is located 12 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, is New England's first LNG deepwater port and will be the second operating LNG deepwater port globally. The first, Gulf Gateway, is located approximately 100 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Gulf Gateway is also owned by Excelerate Energy.