MarAd offers funds to help with conversion of ship to LNG

Maritime Administration originally awarded the money to Horizon Lines, but the ocean carrier did not move forward with the project and has since been broken up and sold to Pasha and Matson Lines.    The Maritime Administration offering $900,000 to support the conversion of existing U.S. flag vessels to liquefied natural gas propulsion.
   The announcement comes just days after a new ship for TOTE, that will be powered by LNG, was launched in San Diego at General Dynamic’s NASSCO shipyard.
   Back in 2013, MarAd had originally said it would provide the $900,000 to Horizon Lines, Inc. to convert its ship, Horizon Spirit to operate on LNG, but Horizon did not move forward with the project and has since announced plans to be broken up and sold to Pasha and Matson Lines.
   MarAd intends to use information gained from a new demonstration project using LNG to “support further work related to air emissions reduction/alternative fuels research and to assess the public benefit of possible incentives to encourage adoption of emissions reduction and alternative fuels in the marine sector.”
   The administration will accept proposals from U.S. shipowners, operators and/or public sponsors through May 7, 2015.
   Data collected will provide information regarding air emission reductions achieved using LNG and operational lessons learned from operating the vessel on LNG.
   Additional information about this request for proposal can be found at Grants.gov.