Dual fuel to play a role in future of Gulf Coast Shipyard Group
TY Offshore, part of the Gulf Coast Shipyard Group, has signed a contract for the construction of a 92m LNG-powered offshore support vessel. Sister company Trinity Yachts' VP Billy Smith said the technology will be rolled out to the group's superyacht clients.…
Following the equity injection that will see Trinity Yachts and TY Offshore become part of the newly launched Gulf Coast Shipyard Group, TY Offshore has announced a contract for the construction of a new dual fuel offshore vessel. The 92m Harvey Gulf International Marine-commissioned ship will act as a LNG-powered offshore support vessel.
Speaking to SuperyachtNews.com Trinity Yachts’ vice president William Smith III said that this contract was also significant for the Gulf Coast Shipyard Group’s future yachting strategy, as its technology would now be offered to potential superyacht owners. “The technology and systems these vessels are utilising will be made available to any of our future yacht clients that request features such as diesel electric, dual fuel, and ABS Enviro+, Green Passport classification.”
The NOx emission reductions that dual fuel technology affords would be of interest to clients building superyachts destined for US cruising if the US IMO delegation succeeds in its plans to enforce Emission Control Areas along the entirety of its coastline. But the idea of operating a superyacht remains an unfashionable proposition and is, in the opinion of Fort Lauderdale-based KPI Bridge Oil’s Mauro Agostini, a long way from coming to fruition.
“I don’t see the infrastructure being established to introduce LNG to superyachts – it would be a nightmare to get hold of LNG for a yacht”, he explained. “Maybe one or two really big yachts, with huge tanks that can run for a year without the need to refuel, will be able to [run on LNG]. But even the very biggest at the moment, take 1.5 million litres and that doesn’t last long. They already need to refuel three or four times a year and it would require an even greater amount of LNG.” Therefore an infrastructure that would incentivise a superyacht owner to ‘go LNG’ is, in Agostini’s view, “at least 10 or 15 years away”.
The vessel, which will be the sixth of its kind to be built by TY Offshore, will be awarded the ENVIRO+ Green Passport by the American Bureau of Shipping, the classification society overseeing the build. The requirements for this certification include, among others, that the vessels be continuously manned with a certified environmental officer, be completely constructed with certified environmentally-friendly materials, and have advanced alarms for fuel tanks and containment systems.
John Dane III, who is president and CEO of both Trinity Yachts and Trinity Offshore emphasised the significance of the contract to the newly formed group’s commitment to the development of LNG technology. “To be building the largest LNG fleet in the world is significant for us. We are delighted to show our commitment to evolving LNG technology through our engineering and build skills. Of course, the confidence Harvey Gulf puts in us also ensures steady employment over the next 36 months”, he said.
Speakers including ECOsuperyacht's Richard Franklin and ICOMIA's Albert Willemsen will address this topic across two sessions at the forthcoming Superyacht Environment & MARPOL Management Meeting, taking place in Barcelona on 25 June.
The cost to attend this management meeting, including lunch and an exclusive networking dinner, is just € 400.00. Click here to register your attendance, or call +44 (0) 20 7801 1014 to register over the phone with Suzie. Alternatively you can email her on suzie@thesuperyachtgroup.com.
Speaking to SuperyachtNews.com Trinity Yachts’ vice president William Smith III said that this contract was also significant for the Gulf Coast Shipyard Group’s future yachting strategy, as its technology would now be offered to potential superyacht owners. “The technology and systems these vessels are utilising will be made available to any of our future yacht clients that request features such as diesel electric, dual fuel, and ABS Enviro+, Green Passport classification.”
The NOx emission reductions that dual fuel technology affords would be of interest to clients building superyachts destined for US cruising if the US IMO delegation succeeds in its plans to enforce Emission Control Areas along the entirety of its coastline. But the idea of operating a superyacht remains an unfashionable proposition and is, in the opinion of Fort Lauderdale-based KPI Bridge Oil’s Mauro Agostini, a long way from coming to fruition.
“I don’t see the infrastructure being established to introduce LNG to superyachts – it would be a nightmare to get hold of LNG for a yacht”, he explained. “Maybe one or two really big yachts, with huge tanks that can run for a year without the need to refuel, will be able to [run on LNG]. But even the very biggest at the moment, take 1.5 million litres and that doesn’t last long. They already need to refuel three or four times a year and it would require an even greater amount of LNG.” Therefore an infrastructure that would incentivise a superyacht owner to ‘go LNG’ is, in Agostini’s view, “at least 10 or 15 years away”.
The vessel, which will be the sixth of its kind to be built by TY Offshore, will be awarded the ENVIRO+ Green Passport by the American Bureau of Shipping, the classification society overseeing the build. The requirements for this certification include, among others, that the vessels be continuously manned with a certified environmental officer, be completely constructed with certified environmentally-friendly materials, and have advanced alarms for fuel tanks and containment systems.
The 92m LNG-powered offshore support vessel.
John Dane III, who is president and CEO of both Trinity Yachts and Trinity Offshore emphasised the significance of the contract to the newly formed group’s commitment to the development of LNG technology. “To be building the largest LNG fleet in the world is significant for us. We are delighted to show our commitment to evolving LNG technology through our engineering and build skills. Of course, the confidence Harvey Gulf puts in us also ensures steady employment over the next 36 months”, he said.
Speakers including ECOsuperyacht's Richard Franklin and ICOMIA's Albert Willemsen will address this topic across two sessions at the forthcoming Superyacht Environment & MARPOL Management Meeting, taking place in Barcelona on 25 June.
The cost to attend this management meeting, including lunch and an exclusive networking dinner, is just € 400.00. Click here to register your attendance, or call +44 (0) 20 7801 1014 to register over the phone with Suzie. Alternatively you can email her on suzie@thesuperyachtgroup.com.
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