该因特莱克轮船公司，在大湖区航运业提供原材料到整个地区的港口的领导者，已达一个协议在原则上与壳牌，以提供液化自然气（LNG）的支持LNG因特莱克其船舶的转换为主要推进燃料。因特莱克转换后，这些舰艇有望成为第一个LNG动力船舶在大湖上，其中在美国的第一个目标将第一艘由2015年的春天，已经通过工程和设计工作，寻求监管部门的批准，并确保融资。壳牌将是因特莱克的独家供应商，LNG为每个转换的船只。

重油燃烧发动机液化天然气发动机的因特莱克船只将需要因特莱克的转换作出重大资本投资在其船队。然而，这些投资预计将导致显着的环境效益。因特莱克预计，液化天然气的转换，将导致显着减少二氧化碳，硫氧化物，氮氧化物和颗粒物。

“此举我们竭诚为环境管理的下一级，解释说：”马克·巴克，因特莱克总统。“虽然海洋运输方式已经是目前最环保的方式移动整个大湖地区的货物，经营液化天然气将进一步减少船舶对环境的影响。我们不仅尊重我们的客户的需求，而且我们所经营的水道上工作的影响降到最低。“

此举为LNG允许因特莱克的采购，生产和分发完全在北美使用的燃料，减少对进口化石燃料的使用和依赖。

“海运业已经支持成千上万的就业机会和数十亿美元的在整个大湖工资，补充说：”巴克。“我们现在正在发展的方式，将允许参加因特莱克的长期增长和经济繁荣的地区，它已经担任100年。此举让我们回到增长的天然气行业，这也创造了宝贵的就业机会在美国“

壳牌宣布计划在3月投资于天然气液化装置，其在加拿大安大略省萨尼亚制造中心。一旦投入使用，该项目将提供LNG燃料在整个大湖，其接壤的美国各州，加拿大各省和圣劳伦斯航道。

The Interlake Steamship Company, a leader in the Great Lakes shipping industry delivering raw materials to ports throughout the region, has reached an agreement in principle with Shell to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to support Interlake’s conversion of its vessels to LNG as the main propulsion fuel.  When converted, these ships are expected to be the first LNG-powered ships on the Great Lakes and among the first in the U.S. With a goal of converting the first vessel by the spring of 2015, Interlake is already working through engineering and design, seeking regulatory approval and securing financing. Shell would be Interlake’s exclusive supplier of LNG for each converted vessel.

The conversion of Interlake’s vessels from heavy fuel oil burning engines to engines that operate on LNG will require Interlake to make significant capital investments in its fleet.  However, those investments are expected to result in significant environmental benefits. Interlake anticipates that the conversion to LNG will result in significant reductions of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter.

“This move takes our dedication to environmental stewardship to the next level,” explains Mark Barker, President of Interlake.  “While the marine mode of transportation is already by far the most environmentally friendly way to move goods throughout the Great Lakes region, operating on LNG would further reduce our vessels’ environmental impacts.  We not only respect the needs of our customers, but work to minimize the impact on the waterways which we operate.”

The move to LNG allows Interlake to use a fuel that is sourced, produced and distributed entirely in North America, reducing the use of and reliance on imported fossil fuels.

“The marine transportation industry already supports thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in wages throughout the Great Lakes,” adds Barker.  “We are now evolving in a way that would allow Interlake to participate in the long-term growth and economic prosperity of the region that it has served for 100 years. This move allows us to back the growing natural gas industry, which is also creating valuable jobs here in the U.S.”

Shell announced plans in March to invest in a natural gas liquefaction unit at its Sarnia Manufacturing Centre in Ontario, Canada. Once operational, this project will supply LNG fuel throughout the Great Lakes, their bordering U.S. States, Canadian provinces and the St. Lawrence Seaway.