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33 Connections Summer 2016 Whether LNG is required for the long or short term, or in larger or smaller quantities, Jensen has a bunkering solution." Caribbean into Alaska," said Matt Jackson, vice president, LNG business development. "Crowley has reliably served the businesses and residents of Alaska with fuel sales and distribution for over 50 years and we stand poised to expand that service with the introduction of LNG as an alternative. Because we are a long-standing fixture in the Alaska fuels business, we can leverage our existing infrastructure and market knowledge strategically." LNG on the Water Some vessel owners are looking past diesel and onward to LNG as an alternative to meet the more stringent environmental requirements being placed on vessel owners and operators. But, in doing so, they are facing what Sperling calls the "chicken and the egg problem." LNG isn't readily available as a bunkering fuel in most markets. But, Jensen Maritime, Crowley's Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary, has been working to remedy that. They've designed two new, LNG bunker barge concepts that can be fully customized to meet any customer's unique need. One is a retrofitted barge with an above-deck LNG tank capable of modification to accommodate more than one type of product. The second is purpose-built with a larger LNG tank nestled inside of the barge. They've also designed the first LNG-bunkering articulated tug-barge (ATB) in the U.S. – a concept that's already been granted "approval in principle" by the ABS. "We understand that customers have very different needs when it comes to LNG," said Sperling. "Whether LNG is required for the long or short term, or in larger or smaller quantities, Jensen has a bunkering solution." And Jensen isn't only offering its services externally, they've also designed and managed the construction of four LNG-ready product tankers for Crowley's petroleum and chemical transportation group. In May, Crowley christened the third such vessel, Louisana, which joined sister ships Texas and Ohio, in the U.S. coastwise trade. These tankers are the first-ever to receive the American Bureau of Shipping's (ABS) LNG-Ready Level 1 approval, meaning that Crowley can convert the tankers to liquefied natural gas (LNG) for propulsion in the future. The fourth 50,000 dead-weight-ton (dwt), 330,000-barrel-capacity vessel in the family remains under construction with delivery planned for third quarter 2016. Also under construction for Crowley's Puerto Rico liner service group is the first of two Commitment Class, LNG- powered, combination container Roll- On/Roll-Off (ConRo) ships, which upon completion, will enter Crowley's fleet in support of their Jones Act, U.S.-to-Puerto Rico cargo transportation service. "As a company that operates ships powered by diesel, we started designing LNG-powered vessels with a complete understanding of the economic and environmental benefits," said Sperling. "We've worked closely with Crowley's LNG services team to design the ships and barges and we've learned a lot along the way. Since LNG supply is land-based, there are a lot of specs that have to match up on the water side." In the LNG market, Crowley is unique. The company operates vessels, distributes fuel, and has unrivaled technical and engineering expertise that blurs the lines between civil and marine engineering. Not many companies can offer what Crowley and its subsidiaries can, and undoubtedly, none is so committed to flexible, innovative energy solutions. Learn more about... Learn more about Crowley's LNG solutions at www.crowley.com/LNG ? Crowley has taken delivery of three LNG-ready tankers, which can be converted to liquefied natural gas for propulsion in the future.