Totem Ocean Trailer Express picks yard for LNG conversion

The ocean carrier selected Keppel Shipyard Ltd to convert its Tacoma-to-Anchorage roll-on/roll-off trailership Midnight Sun to run on dual fuel liquefied natural gas.    Totem Ocean Trailer Express has signed a contract with Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M)’s wholly owned subsidiary Keppel Shipyard Ltd for the conversion of  its trailership Midnight Sun to dual fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion.
   This is the world’s first major conversion of a large roll-on/roll-off vessel to LNG, according to a statement from Totem Ocean.
   The work will begin in December and is expected to be completed in 90 days. Midnight Sun‘s sister ship, North Star, is expected to be converted to LNG some time in 2016-2017.
   The conversion will significantly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions of particulate matter will be cut 91 percent, nitrogen oxides by 100 percent, sulfur oxides by 90 percent and carbon dioxide by 35 percent.  
   Totem Ocean is part of the TOTE and Saltchuk organization that is also building two, new LNG-powered containerships for its Sea Star affiliate which operates a liner service between Puerto Rico and the mainland United States.
   Puget Sound Energy, in partnership with Totem Ocean and the Port of Tacoma ,plans to construct an LNG liquefaction terminal at the Port that will serve Totem Ocean, residents of Puget Sound and the broader transportation industry in the Pacific Northwest. This facility is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2018.
   In order to serve the Alaska ships in the short term, TOTE and WesPac are building North America’s first LNG bunker barge to deliver fuel to the ships once converted.