Murkowski boards TOTE’s ship set for LNG conversion

The United States Senator for the state of Alaska, Lisa Murkowski recently toured TOTE’s vessel, MV Midnight Sun, that is scheduled for conversion to run on liquefied natural gas.

According to Totem Ocean, a TOTE unit, beginning in the fall of 2015, the company will start the process of converting its two ships, the MV North Star and MV Midnight Sun to natural gas. The Orca class vessels will be the third and fourth cargo ships in TOTE’s fleet to run on liquefied natural gas.

The first two LNG-powered vessels in the company’s fleet are the two Marlin-class vessels built by General Dynamics NASSCO.

Totem Ocean has contracted Wartsila to supply engines, generators, and integrated LNG storage and fuel handling systems. Wartsila will work on the design, engineering, and integration of the system.

Puget Sound Energy will supply Totem Ocean with liquefied natural gas for the Orcas once converted. PSE is building a new LNG terminal at the Port of Tacoma.This terminal is expected to be completed in 2018.

LNG World News Staff; Image: murkowski.senate.gov