Coast Guard video shows LNG tanker Catalunya Spirit is surrounded by the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba, several tugboats and the dedicated pollution response vessel, Maine Responder, as technical representatives aboard the tanker make repairs Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. (Video courtesy of Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod)

February 14, 2008

Power restored on LNG carrier

The latest announcement from the Unified Command at Coast Guard Sector Boston says both boilers on board the previously disabled LNG tanker Catalunya Spirit are back on line. The ship's operating systems are being tested before engaging propulsion.

The Catalunya Spirit lost propulsion and became disabled east of Cape Cod Monday morning. It has been towed to the site of a future LNG offload point seven miles off the coast of Gloucester, where repairs are being made.

While previous reports had identified a computer malfunction as the reason for the ship's loss of power, the unified command says that the repair crew aboard found two malfunctioning electrical relays and has ordered replacement parts, which are en route. The crew bypassed the relays to test the engine and found that in the event of an emergency, the engine will run.

Once repairs are complete, Lloyd's Register will provide Capt. Gail Kulisch, the captain of the Port of Boston, with a report certifying that the repairs are complete and satisfactory. Kulisch must then accept the certification before the Catalunya Spirit can resume full international service.