The world’s first LNG-powered containership is scheduled to enter the water on April 18, 2015 at General Dynamics NASSCO.
The announcement was made by NASSCO, the builder of TOTE’s LNG-powered containership duo, dubbed the Marlin class vessels.
Mrs. Sophie Sacco, wife of Michael Sacco, president of the Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO, will christen the ship with a traditional champagne bottle break over the ship’s hull.
The name of the ship will also be revealed during the ceremony.
The Marlins, which will home port in Jacksonville, Florida, will enter service in late 2015 and early 2016 replacing 1970-built ships operating in the Puerto Rico trade.
The ships feature 3,100 in TEU and are expected to create a reduction of sulfur dioxide (SOx) emissions by 98 percent, particulate matter (PM) by 99 percent, nitrous oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 71 percent over TOTE’scurrent ships on the route.
The design has been provided by DSEC, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), located in Busan, South Korea. It includes DSME’s patented LNG fuel-gas system and the world’s first order of a MAN ME-GI dual fuel slow speed engine.
Both ships surpass the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s clean air regulations.
TOTE has signed a long-term agreement with Pivotal LNG and WesPac Midstream to LNG to fuel its two new containerships.
When completed the 764-foot-long containerships are expected to be the largest ships of any type in the world primarily powered by LNG.
The total capital committed to the project is over $350 million.
World Maritime News Staff