Fincantieri hands over Clean Everglades LNG bunker barge to Seaside LNG

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding hosted a christening ceremony on Tuesday in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for the recently constructed LNG bunker barge Clean Everglades, marking the delivery of the vessel to its owner.

The 5,500 cbm articulated tug barge was built for Jones Act-shipowner Seaside LNG as the demand for LNG-powered ships continues to increase. Namely, orders for LNG vessels are eclipsing 30% of the fleet orderbook.

The vessel will be operated by Polaris New Energy, the bunkering arm of Seaside LNG, which maintains the largest fleet of Jones Act-compliant bunkering vessels in the U.S.

“Polaris New Energy is excited to continue to expand the LNG bunkering infrastructure in the United States,” said Tim Casey CEO of Seaside LNG.

“The delivery of the Clean Everglades gives us the ability to expand our LNG bunkering business to the Gulf of Mexico. Partnering with the talented and professional staff at Fincantieri has produced a second exceptional vessel.”

The vessel is similar in design and appearance to its sister ship, the LNG barge Clean Canaveral, which was delivered by Fincantieri two years ago. Since then, the vessel has made more than 65 LNG bunker deliveries.

Clean Everglades is fitted with four 1,375 CBM IMO Type C tanks. The LNG barge, classed by ABS, will utilize a cargo handling system designed and developed by Wartsila. The vessel is 340’ overall length, 66’ beam, and 32’-10” deep.

“The previous Fincantieri-built LNG barge was delivered on schedule during the global pandemic, which was quite an accomplishment,” said Jan Allman, Fincantieri Vice President and General Manager.

“We are ready to deliver the Clean Everglades six weeks ahead of schedule, thanks in part to a clean, brilliant design and the motivated, experienced shipbuilders here at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.”

Seaside owns 50% of JAX LNG, a small-scale (360,000 gallons/day) LNG production facility operating two trains in Jacksonville, Florida, and has a 100% ownership stake in Polaris New Energy.