Ships 5, 6 & 7 on LNG

[OKW Lover]

I see that Disney has announced three new ships (well, actually added one to the previously announced 2 new ones) and that these ships will run on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Wondering if one of our maritime experts here (@truck1, @tonkaskipper and others) can comment on which ports have refueling capabilities for LNG. That would probably be one of the governing factors in where these ships will sail.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I see that Disney has announced three new ships (well, actually added one to the previously announced 2 new ones) and that these ships will run on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Wondering if one of our maritime experts here (@truck1, @tonkaskipper and others) can comment on which ports have refueling capabilities for LNG. That would probably be one of the governing factors in where these ships will sail.

Good question. I hadn't thought about that. However, I could see a lot of ports adding the capability in the next 4 years in order to keep ships visiting.

 

[truck1]

I see that Disney has announced three new ships (well, actually added one to the previously announced 2 new ones) and that these ships will run on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Wondering if one of our maritime experts here (@truck1, @tonkaskipper and others) can comment on which ports have refueling capabilities for LNG. That would probably be one of the governing factors in where these ships will sail.

At the moment, theres only 2 US ports on the East coast, that can deliver LNG bunker to a ship. 1 is in Jax and the other in Louisiana. That could potentially change between now and the time that the new ships are delivered. With that said, theres no reason that a LNG barge couldn't move between Jax and PC or even by truck from an existing Fl or other area trunk line. That would be time consuming, but you never know. Doing some quick research one of the reason DCL prob went to LNG is that there is a new requirement coming in 2020 regarding the amount of Sulphur in marine fuels. From what Ive sen its a pretty big jump.

 

[OKW Lover]

Appreciate the feedback @truck1! I wonder if similar facilities would be available in Galveston and/or Long Beach given their proximity to oil/gas production facilities.

 

[truck1]

Appreciate the feedback @truck1! I wonder if similar facilities would be available in Galveston and/or Long Beach given their proximity to oil/gas production facilities.

Theres 2 or 3 that are either open or plan to be open in the near future, 1 is Vancouver I think, and they are planning 1 or 2 on the west coast if its not already open, but from what I'm reading theres some kind of issues that a lot may never be built. Its almost sounds like the old nuclear power vs conventional power debates.

From doing a little more reading, there are a few companies that are set up to deliver lng to ships in different ports.

 

[cmwade77]

I thought it was an odd choice give. How low our natural gas reserves are and how environmentally unfriendly getting to what remains is, at least in the U.S., so we shall see how this will get handled.

 

[kathi]

It's possible one or two of the new ships could be based in Europe full time. Especially if LNG is more readily available. (This is just a guess, but I would think DCL would want to exploit more than just the US based market.)

 

[cmwade77]

It's possible one or two of the new ships could be based in Europe full time. Especially if LNG is more readily available. (This is just a guess, but I would think DCL would want to exploit more than just the US based market.)

Even so, there is still a limited supply, it is one of the reasons there have been fewer natural gas vehicles made as of late.

I'm all for using cleaner files, but k owing what I know this just doesn't make sense ling term unless it is easy to change the engines to an alternative fuel source.

 

[insureman]

The biggest issue in the US is nobody wants a LNG storage bunker in their backyard. Fall River MA residents fought for years to stop a LNG storage facility. Now a company wants a LNG compressor station in Rehoboth MA and that is being fought people in that town. Here's a link about an explosion in Washington state.
http://www.sightline.org/2016/02/08...-dark-after-2014-lng-explosion-in-washington/

 

[cruiser21]

Isn't Poland is building a plant with a pipeline to the North sea. I remember this being a topic in the presidents speech last week. I'm sure DCL wouldn't do this if they didn't have a plan. Maybe they know something we don't. Maybe I should buy stock in that sector.

 

[cmwade77]

The biggest issue in the US is nobody wants a LNG storage bunker in their backyard. Fall River MA residents fought for years to stop a LNG storage facility. Now a company wants a LNG compressor station in Rehoboth MA and that is being fought people in that town. Here's a link about an explosion in Washington state.
http://www.sightline.org/2016/02/08...-dark-after-2014-lng-explosion-in-washington/

Yes, that is an issue as well, although not as bad as CNG from what I understand, I am sure Disney has a plan to address it all though.

 

[truck1]

From what i understand, theres a new regulation coming that reduces the amount of sulfur in fuels, starting in 2020, which in part is driving the lng ships.

 

[OKW Lover]

The biggest issue in the US is nobody wants a LNG storage bunker in their backyard. Fall River MA residents fought for years to stop a LNG storage facility. Now a company wants a LNG compressor station in Rehoboth MA and that is being fought people in that town.

You're certainly right about the NIMBYs. Despite living with such facilities for years, like the one in Dartmouth MA, people still don't want them nearby.

For LNG ships though the facilities would be in port areas which are more likely to be industrialized areas, not residential, and the amount of push back wouldn't be as great.

 

[truck1]

You're certainly right about the NIMBYs. Despite living with such facilities for years, like the one in Dartmouth MA, people still don't want them nearby.

For LNG ships though the facilities would be in port areas which are more likely to be industrialized areas, not residential, and the amount of push back wouldn't be as great.

I was looking today to see if PC had a lng plant or facilities planned or in the works. There is 1 that was given permission to start in Titusville not far from the port that would ship lng out of the country on ships, so it wouldn't be a stretch to see it run a line to the port. (Seeing that DCLs contract with the port is up in 23 I think don't be surprised to see a line run to the DCL pier as part of a stay here gesture) The hold up is that the proposed site is .6 miles from the end of a runway near the airport, and regs say it needs to be a mile. The builders are waiting on a variance. But guess what. Even though it's not near a population that I know of, (i have to look some more at it) everyone is up in arms, even though it will produce work and money for the city. A group already has a lawyer on retainer.

 

[OKW Lover]

Interesting. I wonder if a lighter barge would be a better/more flexible choice.

 

[truck1]

Interesting. I wonder if a lighter barge would be a better/more flexible choice.

It's possible. It's the way they move fuel around PC now. The article i saw said that it wasnt really efficient for trailers to fill ships. Ill have to look at a chart and see how long it would take for a barge to come down from Jax.

 

[bbel]

Let's face it, DCL have a history of making the rest of the world fit around them, not them fitting around the rest of the world. I'm sure they have a plan haha!

 

[erionm]

Carnival, Royal Caribbean and MSC all have cruise ships on order that will be LNG powered.

 

[barbarossa_hoosier]

It appears that there is a two-year old, $250MM project to build an LNG plant/distribution center in Titusville, right next door to PC:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/n...tural-gas-plant-proposed-titusville/21459809/

I would assume that such a facility would/could be designed to support LNG supply for cruise ships at PC.

And, yes, there are NIMBYs involved:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/n...-over-proposed-titusville-lng-plant/98788670/

 

[truck1]

It appears that there is a two-year old, $250MM project to build an LNG plant/distribution center in Titusville, right next door to PC:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/n...tural-gas-plant-proposed-titusville/21459809/

I would assume that such a facility would/could be designed to support LNG supply for cruise ships at PC.

And, yes, there are NIMBYs involved:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/n...-over-proposed-titusville-lng-plant/98788670/

Thats the one I was referring to. One of the hold ups is special permission since its .6 miles from the end of a runway. Fed regs say 1 mile min.