First liquefied gas barge built in U.S. in decades launched

The Harvest is the first complex liquefied ammonia transport barge built in the United States for the Jones Act trade since 1982.    Pacific Northwest shipbuilding and repair company Vigor Industrial recently launched the Harvest, which the company says is the first complex liquefied ammonia transport barge built in the United States for the Jones Act trade since 1982.
   The vessel, which will be operated as part of an articulated tug-barge (ATB) unit, was built to support the operations of the Mosaic Company, a Minnesota-based producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash, Portland, Ore.-based Vigor said Tuesday.
   “This is a significant project for both the maritime industry and our community,” Vigor CEO Frank Foti said in a statement.
   Over the past 23 months, the project supported about 1,500 American jobs and involved close to a million labor hours at Vigor facilities in Oregon and Washington, as well as regional subcontractors. Teams used 9,000 tons of American rolled steel to complete the 508-by-96-foot ATB tank barge, the builders say.
   The parties involved have said that completion of the first U.S.-flagged liquefied gas carrier built in decades hinged on extensive project planning and management between Vigor, multiple contractors, designers and its customer, Savage Companies, a subsidiary of which is set to operate the tug. Savage, a supply chain solution company, has been steadily increasing its footprint in the marine industry.
   “We chose Vigor for this project following an extensive search. Their unique capabilities combined with our shared commitment to safety and environmental integrity were key drivers in our decision,” Savage President and CEO Kirk Aubry said. “We look forward to operating the ATB and providing transportation services.”
   The Harvest, which measures 508 feet (nearly 155 meters) in length, has a beam of 96 feet (29 meters) and depth of 51 feet (15.5 meters). She has a fuel storage capacity of 27,250 gallons.