Port of Louisiana seeks bids to build e-methanol bunker barge

Bids are being solicited from qualified US shipyards for the construction of a 28,900-bbl e-methanol hydrogen fuelling barge for the Port of South Louisiana.

According to the port’s solicitation, the double-hulled barge would have an overall length of 91 m, beam of 16 m, depth of around 6 m and full load draught of 4 m, and be built to comply with the applicable requirements of the US Coast Guard (USCG) for the carriage of methanol and ABS.

The barge would have five main cargo tank pairs and be capable of loading 6,000 bbl/hr of methanol and discharging 1,000 gpm to a single vessel or 500 gpm when simultaneously bunkering two vessels.

Seattle-based naval architectural firm Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) supported the port in developing the outboard profile and arrangements for the bunker barge.

“This project represents a pivotal step toward building the clean fuel infrastructure our industry needs,” said EBDG project manager, Joseph Cardella. “Our team is proud to support the Port of South Louisiana with the contract design of this innovative methanol fuelling barge, including the development of the technical specifications, arrangements, and plans. The H2P3 barge is a testament to what’s possible when forward-thinking organisations come together to drive sustainable change along the Gulf Coast and beyond.”

Bids to construct the H2theFuture E-Methanol Hydrogen Fueling Barge must be submitted by shipyards no later than 28 August 2025. The port expects to award a contract 24 September 2025 and complete the barge no later than 31 March 2027.

US shipyards interested in submitting a bid were required to attend a mandatory prebid conference on 19 August. Further details can be found in Port of South Louisiana’s advertisement, available here.