MARAD Gives Over $1M to Technology Forerunners
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced that it will provide over $1 million to support the development of two new emission-reducing solutions.
Through a cooperative agreement, MARAD has provided $730,000 to Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities (PRCC) to convert a towboat engine from diesel to LNG. Results from this demonstration project are expected to help expand the development and availability of natural gas conversion technology for smaller scale tug, tow and harbor vessels. PRCC will collect air emissions data before and after the conversion, which will allow for operational and emissions comparisons.
A separate cooperative agreement will provide Interlake Steamship Company (Interlake) of Ohio with $500,000 to retrofit the Lee Tregurtha, which operates on the Great Lakes, with an exhaust gas scrubber. The scrubber is anticipated to significantly reduce sulfur emissions and meet or exceed North American Emissions Control Area requirements. Interlake will provide MARAD with pre- and post-installation air emissions data, and lessons learned on scrubber installation and operation.
In April 2015, Interlake became the first U.S.-flag fleet to test freshwater scrubbers on the Great Lakes when a system became operational on the 806-foot Oberstar. The 826-foot Tregurtha and 1,003-foot Barker will be equipped with the same single-inlet, closed-loop DuPont Marine scrubbers from Belco Technologies, a division of DuPont Sustainable Solutions. Installation work will be undertaken by Bay Shipbuilding. In all, five Interlake vessels, including two additional 1,000-footers: the Paul R. Tregurtha and Mesabi Miner, will be outfitted with scrubbers by 2017.
The newly-funded demonstration projects are part of ongoing work by MARAD’s Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance Program and the maritime industry to conduct research and demonstration projects in support of identifying alternative fuels and technologies for marine applications.
“These investments accelerate the growth of alternative fuel and environmental technologies throughout the United States’ maritime industry,” said Maritime Administrator Paul ‘Chip’ Jaenichen. “These projects will yield data that will support future commercial investment decisions and will provide lasting benefits for our nation while helping us reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. This is how government can work to encourage technology advancement and environmental stewardship.”
Earlier this month, MARAD announced a $900,000 cooperative agreement with Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc. (TOTE) to further develop knowledge regarding the costs and benefits of vessel conversions to LNG propulsion. Tote will convert the container ship Midnight Sun to operate on LNG and will work with MARAD to obtain pre and post-conversion air emissions data, and operational information to assist maritime stakeholders in assessing the potential of LNG conversions.
The Midnight Sun is a RO/RO cargo ship which provides round-trip shipping service between the Port of Tacoma, WA, and the Port of Anchorage, AK. The study is expected to be completed by 2018.