The first LNG-powered offshore support vessel in the Gulf of Mexico began operating for Royal Dutch Shell on Thursday.
Harvey Energy (5,150 dwt, built 2014) is chartered from Harvey Gulf International Marine and is the first dual-fuel vessel in the region. It will run on green friendly, low emission 99% LNG and can operate for around seven days before refuelling but has a diesel option for potential long-distance voyages.
“Shell is delighted to be the customer of this innovative vessel,” said John Hollowell, executive vice-president, Deep Water, Shell Upstream Americas. “Shell’s investment underlines our confidence in LNG becoming a bigger part of the global fuel mix.”
The 302-foot Harvey Energy will load from Harvey Gulf’s new LNG bunkering facility at their terminal at Port Fourchon, Louisiana and deliver equipment and drilling fluids to Shell’s platforms.
Harvey Gulf specialises in providing OSVs and multi-purpose support vessels for deepwater operations.
