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Totem Ocean Trailer Express (Totem Ocean) has signed a contract with Keppel Shipyard Ltd - a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd - for the conversion of the Midnight Sun [pictured] to dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion. According to Totem Ocean, it is the world's first major conversion of a large ro-ro vessel to LNG.

Work is scheduled begin in December and is expected to be completed in 90 days. Once converted, the Midnight Sun will emit fewer air and greenhouse gas emissions, reducing emissions of particulate matter by 91 percent, nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 100 percent, sulphur oxide (SOx) by 90 percent and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 35 percent, Totem Ocean says. Its sister ship, the North Star, is expected to be converted between 2016 and 2017.

Totem Ocean is set to be the first in North America to begin the conversion of its ro-ro vessels to natural gas. Totem Ocean is part of TOTE - a business unit of the Saltchuk family of companies that is to introduce the world's first LNG-powered containership into the Puerto Rico trade later this year.

"Totem Ocean is excited to partner with Keppel for the conversion of the Midnight Sun, enabling her to operate on natural gas," stated John Parrott, President of Totem Ocean. "The removal and replacement of the four engines, adding 2,200 cubic meters of LNG capacity along with the addition of 47 kilometres of new cabling is a complex undertaking, and we are confident that Keppel will provide safe, timely, high-quality work to ensure the best outcome for Totem Ocean and our customers."

Michael Chia, Managing Director (Marine & Technology), Keppel Offshore & Marine, remarked: "We are happy to start a new partnership with Totem Ocean who has entrusted us with the conversion of their first RO/RO vessel to run on both diesel and natural gas. Due to natural gas’ cleaner burning properties, more and more vessel owners are choosing to have their ships powered by LNG. Leveraging our strong track record and experience in ship modification and conversion work, Keppel is well positioned to capture this growing market to meet the industry's needs for environmentally friendly solutions."

Puget Sound Energy, in partnership with Totem Ocean and the Port of Tacoma, has plans to construct an LNG liquefaction terminal at the port that will serve Totem Ocean, residents of Puget Sound and the broader transportation industry in the Pacific Northwest. The facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.

In the short term, TOTE and its partner WesPac are building North America's first LNG bunker barge to deliver fuel to the ships once converted.