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Offshore marine and engineering consultancy Aqualis Offshore, part of Oslo-listed Aqualis ASA, has today confirmed that it has been contracted by Gas Entec Co. Ltd to provide an engineering study of a newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) barge that is to operate off the U.S. coast.

Aqualis Offshore's work scope is to provide a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) study for a control and alarm monitoring system (CAMS), emergency shutdown system (ESDS), and wireless telemetry system installed on the 2,200-cubic-metre LNG bunkering/transport barge.

The LNG bunkering barge is to transport LNG cargo from port facilities to LNG-fuelled ships for bunkering. The vessel is being built by Conrad Shipyard, Texas, for TOTE.

Aqualis Offshore said in a statement today that the contract value "is undisclosed".

"When we set up our Busan office last year, a key objective was to build up a presence that allowed us to support oil industry players that are based in South Korea but who operate internationally. Gas Entec falls into this category. We believe we are a good match and are very pleased to be able to cooperate with them," said Phil Lenox, Director - Asia Pacific, Aqualis Offshore.

Gas Entec specialises in shipbuilding engineering & design and project management of small-mid scale LNG FSRU, LNG bunkering solutions and LNG Carriers. The company is headquartered in Busan, South Korea.

Aqualis Offshore is a specialized marine and offshore engineering consultancy focusing on the shallow and deep-water segments of the offshore oil and gas industry.