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GTT North America, Inc. and GTT Training Ltd, have announced the award of the first contract of its kind for the development and implementation of a comprehensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) training programme for the 2,200-cubic-metre LNG bunker barge currently under construction at Conrad Industries Shipyard in Orange, Texas, following the order received by GTT North America from Conrad Industries in February 2015.

The contract was signed with the barge's owner, TOTE, on April 6, 2016, to initiate the programme for training of the tug and LNG barge crew, which will ultimately be subject to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approval.

At present, there are no LNG specific competency and training standards for LNG barges that can serve as the basis to establish crew credentials and qualifications by the flag authorities.

GTT North America is to collaborate with its sister company, GTT Training, STAR Center - a USCG-accredited LNG training centre located near Miami - and TOTE to fully develop the training programme and obtain the necessary approval from USCG.

"We are excited to partner with GTT and other stakeholders in developing a training programme that sets the standard for safety when working with LNG," commented Peter Keller, Executive Vice President of TOTE.

"We are proud and honoured by this agreement with TOTE. It demonstrates GTT group's capability to provide TOTE a wide range of services, beyond the containment system technology, to assure their personnel are certified and competent to safely conduct all operations related to the LNG bunker barge," declared Philippe Berterottière, Chief Executive Officer of GTT.