America’s TOTE Inc has finalised a contract with the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard at San Diego, California covering the construction of two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled 3,100TEU container ships plus options for three more. When completed in late 2015 and early 2016, the two lead ships are expected to be the largest vessels of any type in the world to be primarily powered by LNG.
The 764ft-long double-hulled container carriers will be designed by DSEC, a subsidiary of South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), and will operate between Jacksonville, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico when completed. Propulsion will be provided by DSME’s patented LNG fuel-gas system, incorporating a MAN ME-GI dual-fuel slow-speed main engine. JS
