American OSV completes LNG bunkering ‘first’
US-based Harvey Gulf International Marine says it achieved a maritime first with LNG bunkering taking place with its dual-fuel offshore support vessel (OSV) ‘Harvey Energy’.
Built at GCSG in Gulfport, the new OSV is based on the Vard Marine 1 311 design, measures 310ft and is powered by three Wärtsilä 6L34DF dual-fuel gensets providing 7.5MW of power fuelled by a Wärtsilä LNGPac system.
The LNG bunkering took place at a shore-based terminal owned by a subsidiary of Martin Midstream Partners LP. Taking part in the activities alongside the crew of Harvey Energy was the US Coast Guard, ABS, Wärtsilä, Martin Energy Services LLC and local agencies and GCSG.
Harvey Gulf said the cool-down process took around 12 hours to achieve the desired tank temperature and pressure using 3,800 gallons of nitrogen, with the LNG bunkering successfully completed within a few hours of the cool-down.
Harvey Energy will now go through LNG trials before delivery.
Elsewhere, Harvey Gulf is preparing to operate what is said to be the first marine fuelling facility in the United States, located at its vessel facility in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. The fuelling facility will be an important addition to the growing national LNG supply infrastructure, supporting operations of the oil and gas industry’s OSV fleet operating in clean burning LNG.
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