Italian towage specialist Rimorchiatori Riuniti Panfido has placed an order for the construction of an LNG SBBT unit with its compatriot shipbuilder Rosetti Marino.
The SBBT (semi-ballastable barge transporter) unit has been designed by the Spanish engineering and technology group Sener.
This project is co-funded by the European Union through the Poseidon MED II program, Rosetti Marino noted in its statement.
The SBBT unit is a combination of an LNG fueled tractor tug (powered unit) and an LNG bunkering non-propelled pontoon of 4,000 cubic meters (cargo unit).
The tug will be dual fuel driven, towing, escorting, rescue, supply, and salvage tug, propelled by Voith and with 65 tons of bollard pull.
For its part, the pontoon will have a storage capacity of 4,000 cubic meters of LNG and 1,000 cubic meters of marine diesel oil (MDO), and it will be used for bunkering service.
Rosetti Marino noted it has selected RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) as its supervisor and classification society for the project. The vessel, first of its kind to be built by an Italian shipyard is set to operate on the North-Adriatic region and will also be the first such vessel in the Mediterranean.