First U.S. LNG Fueling Terminal Opens

Harvey Gulf has opened the first marine LNG fueling terminal in North America. 

The move comes less than a year after the delivery of the Harvey Energy, America’s first LNG-powered vessel. Harvey Gulf completed a successful LNG bunkering of the Harvey Energy from the newly constructed LNG terminal facility at its operational base in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. The bunkering included the transfer of 43,000 gallons of LNG in approximately 2.25 hours without incident.  

The terminal is designed to meet the requirements of 33 CFR part 127 NFPA 59A and able to deliver LNG at a pumping rate of 550 GMP. The total on site storage is approximately 270,000 gallons contained in three 90,000 USG type “C” vacuum insulated tanks.

Shane Guidry, Chairman and CEO of Harvey Gulf, commented: "This is a testament to Harvey Gulf's commitment to promoting the use of LNG, a clean, abundant, and cost-effective alternative marine fuel.  With the completion of our LNG terminal at Port Fourchon, we are able to provide a LNG bunkering point at the epicenter of marine operations for the Gulf of Mexico, which is vital to continuing the shift to LNG as a marine fuel.” 

The Harvey Energy and her sister ship the Harvey Power, both LNG powered offshore supply vessels (OSVs), are under charter to Shell and support Shell’s Gulf of Mexico assets.

Harvey Power is the second of six LNG OSVs being built for Harvey Gulf International Marine by Gulf Coast Shipyard Group, and like its sister ship, Harvey Energy, Harvey Power is capable of operating on LNG or diesel fuel.

The vessel also meets the criteria of the ABS Enviro+ Green Passport notation. When operating on LNG, these vessels exceed the new Tier IV emissions regulations requiring lower sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides emissions as part of the North American Emission Control Area. Operating on LNG, the Harvey Power can operate in excess of 19 days in normal Gulf of Mexico rig supply mode between refueling.