NorthStar Midstream announced the creation of a new marine transportation company called Polaris New Energy (PNE). PNE is designed to ship liquified natural gas (LNG) via coastal and inland water passages in the United States.
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding will construct a 5,400 m3 barge for PNE with the option to deliver two similar vessels. The 340-foot, ABS Classed barge will include four 1,350 CBM IMO Type C LNG tanks.
Following delivery, the barge will be pulled by a tugboat and will offer bunkering services along the east coast of the US. The LNG on the barge will come from JAX LNG, a Pivotal LNG and NorthStar LNG facility in Jacksonville, Florida.
NorthStar’s Senior Vice President of LNG for NorthStar Midstream, stated, “The construction of this barge will expand our ability to solve the logistics behind delivering LNG to our customers in both an economical and safe manner. As domestic natural gas continues to rise, LNG has quickly become both a clean and competitively priced fuel alternative.”
The Vice President and General Manager of Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding noted that entering the US LNG market was a strategic win and the company’s interest in entering the growing market.
