LNG Bunker Barge Delivers Progress in the Shipping Industry
Crowley Progress is the largest USA-built and flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge. It offers a lower emission alternative fuel compared to marine diesel fuel, supporting shipping customers on their decarbonization journey while continuing to deliver the products upon which Americans rely.
In his spare time, Dean Sahr works on a sailboat he plans to cruise on after retirement. He takes on projects, even on his off days, that allow him to put his expertise in shipping mechanical concepts and design to work.
Growing up in the waters off the Virginia coast, in a shipyard town, Dean learned to fix boats for his family, a pastime that eventually propelled him into a career as a professional ship builder. As the director of new construction for Crowley Maritime Corporation (“Crowley”), the ships he and his team design are crisscrossing waterways across the US, a testament to the expertise he’s developed over the 40 years he’s been in the industry, from a marine diesel mechanic to working in new marine technology.
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Read the transcript
Duration: 3:26 minutes
Description:
This video follows Dean’s work on the Crowley Progress, supported by Shell, advancing lower-emission marine transport through the USA’s largest LNG bunker barge.
EF24 - CROWLEY - Picture Lock Transcript
[Background music plays]
The background instrumentals shift fluidly between folk, jazz, rock and electronic, creating a distinctive yet cohesive soundscape. Rhythms range from upbeat and energetic to smooth and balanced, with nods to The Sound of Shell throughout.
Video footage
Aerial shot of Hatters Point Marina, revealing the full expanse of docks and moored vessels. As the perspective shifts, a low-angle shot captures several sailboats at rest, their masts rising into a sky brushed with scattered clouds.
Dean
This is my baby at the moment, needs a lot of love.
Video footage
Extreme close-up profile shot of Dean’s smiling face, followed by a slightly wider view as he affectionately pats the hull of his sailboat. The focus shifts to a close-up of Dean at the marina, wearing protective gloves and earmuffs as he operates a handheld power sander against the boat’s surface. Bird’s-eye view reveals Dean at work among several sailboats on land, surrounded by trees and scattered equipment.
Dean
My name is Dean. I grew up in the Tidewater area of Virginia, which is very much a shipyard town. Building ships as a profession or fixing them up for myself and my family, this is very important to me.
Video footage
Close-up of Dean laughing, turned slightly away from the camera, with the marina softly blurred in the background. The scene opens up to a wide, low-angle shot of Dean standing confidently on the dock, hands on hips, framed by moored boats and lush greenery beneath a partly cloudy sky. A sequence of shots follows as Dean tosses a coiled blue rope toward his sailboat, then threads it deliberately through his fingers. The moment settles into a close-up profile of Dean leaning on a rod, gazing thoughtfully over the marina before adjusting his glasses with a small smile.
Dean
This vessel is 46 ft long, but the project I just finished is ten times bigger.
Video footage
The sequence continues with a mix of medium and close-up shots of Dean standing beside his sailboat, still leaning on the rod. He gestures animatedly toward the vessel as he speaks, clearly passionate about his boat.
Dean
You don't really realize how big the Crowley Progress is until it's actually in front of you.
Video footage
Low-angle footage captures Dean walking along the dock beside the towering Crowley Progress vessel, its immense hull rising beside him against a brilliant blue sky.
Dean
At 12,000 cubic meters capacity, we're over 400 ft long. The Crowley Progress is an LNG bunker barge. It's a mobile filling station. We bring LNG fuel to the customer vessels.
Video footage
A series of striking beauty shots of the Crowley Progress dockside showcase its sleek design and imposing presence, with its gleaming hull emphasizing the elegance it exudes. A sequence of aerial shots show the large LNG vessel docked at a port, with tugboats guiding its positioning while a container ship with "ZIM LNG" visible on its side looms in the background.
[Text displays]
The Progress is the largest US built and flagged liquified natural gas (LNG) bunker barge.
Chartered by Shell, it can carry 3.17m gallons of LNG, a lower GHG emission alternative to marine diesel*.
*Based on Sphera's “2nd Life Cycle GHG Emission Study on the Use of LNG as Marine Fuel.” The benefit is highly dependent on the engine technology installed.
Video footage
Aerial footage continues to show the Crowley Progress docked at port, guided into position by a tugboat, while the massive container ship looms in the background. The footage transitions into a soft blur as text transitions in to display at frame-center.
Dean
LNG is really the area that the marine industry is focusing on, with an eye on decarbonization and environmental impact.
Video footage
Dean walks past a blue Crowley-labelled cargo container on the ship's deck, maneuvering through maritime equipment and industrial markings that underscore the vessel's operational scale and precision. Close-up footage captures Dean in uniform, the name "Crowley" embroidered on his chest, as he sits in front of multiple computer monitors in a control room, speaking to the off-camera interviewer. A tracking shot follows Dean as he navigates the ship's deck, flanked by towering white pipes, valves, and intricate machinery.
Dean
Progress is designed to fuel the latest generation of LNG powered container ships, ships that move the goods that America needs.
Video footage
Aerial footage captures the intricate network of pipes and machinery on the vessel's deck, prominently featuring a large white pipe labeled "LNG" in bold black text, underscoring the ship's specialized function. Aerial footage captures the Crowley Progress LNG bunker barge navigating a river with a towboat alongside, surrounded by lush greenery and a calm waterway. Aerial footage captures ships navigating the Savannah River beneath the Talmadge Memorial Bridge, with the cityscape and industrial areas visible in the background.
Dean
We have to be ready with the infrastructure to service those vessels when they call on US ports.
Video footage
Timelapse from the deck of a container ship reveals rows of colorful shipping containers stacked meticulously, with an expansive industrial port and winding river serving as the dynamic backdrop.
Video footage
A tracking shot captures Dean walking along the sidewalk in front of the Crowley Building, approaching the entrance, with two flags fluttering on nearby flagpoles.
[Text displays]
Shell and Crowley have worked closely together for more than 85 years on complex marine projects.
Video footage
Low-angle footage of the Crowley building captures its imposing structure with bold signage, as an American flag waves dynamically in the foreground against a clear blue sky. The footage transitions into a soft blur as text transitions in to display at frame-center.
Dean
Crowley Progress is the result of a big collaboration. It was our responsibility to make the vessel ready for Shell. Progress had a very specific set of specifications. In order to achieve that, we had to develop and innovate a lot of different technologies and bring those together.
Video footage
A tracking shot captures Dean walking down a hallway, holding papers, with a model ship displayed on the left and the word 'Crowley' faintly visible on the facing glass wall. Eye-level footage shows Dean and three other individuals seated around a table, examining blueprints and discussing a project, while a large screen behind them displays an image of a Crowley ship. A series of close-ups show the following: a Crowley vessel blueprint on a laptop screen; a detailed blueprint or schematic of an electronic circuit or system displayed on a screen, featuring various interconnected components and grid patterns; and the aforementioned Crowley vessel displayed on the room’s screen.
Dean
We can pump to a customer and also receive vapor back on board and process it all in real time.
Video footage
Aerial footage again captures the Crowley Progress docked at port, guided into position by a tugboat, while the massive container ship looms in the background. Eye-level footage captures Dean speaking directly to the camera while walking across the deck.
Dean
We provide fuel to the customer vessel while they're doing their cargo operations. It's a very difficult thing to achieve. It helps keep the cycle of cargo movement going without stoppage.
Video footage
A series of shots shows a crew member in a hard hat operating multiple computer screens in a control room, with colorful buttons and dynamic system graphics displayed across the monitors. Next, forklifts and cranes are shown lifting cargo containers from towering stacks. Aerial time-lapse footage captures the organized arrangement of colorful shipping containers at a busy port, with cranes actively loading and unloading cargo.
[Text displays]
Shell has the largest LNG bunkering network in the world.
The Crowley Progress refuels LNG-powered ships in the Port of Savannah, the third busiest container gateway in the USA.
Video footage
Panoramic footage captures a large cargo ship sailing beneath a suspension bridge at sunset, the sky awash in shades of orange and pink. The footage transitions into a soft blur as text transitions in to display at frame-center.
Dean
The Crowley progress is extremely busy. It was 100% subscribed before the vessel was even delivered. It takes a very dedicated and talented crew to operate and move the Progress around the port
Video footage
Close-up footage captures Dean turning to glance at the ship’s deck behind him, dominated by towering pipes and industrial infrastructure. This is followed by a low-angle shot of a crane maneuvering a crate against the blue sky, as a crew member looks upward mid-ascent to the deck. A series of footage shows a crew member aboard the vessel maneuvering controls, clad in protective gear, with a large white equipment unit behind him and a vast sky stretching overhead. In a close-up, a hand trails a pen across a map of the Savannah River and Wassaw Sound. Footage from the bridge captures the captain seated at the controls, speaking into a walkie-talkie. This is followed by a panning view through the bridge's windows, revealing the harbor beyond.
Dean
Hey, good afternoon, Captain.
Captain
How’re you doing, Dean?
Video footage
Eye-level footage captures Dean walking onto the bridge and greeting the captain as they share a handshake.
Captain
When you're going alongside something that big, and you’re giving them LNG, it puts it into perspective how well of a choreographed dance this really is.
Video footage
Aerial footage captures the Crowley Aware tugboat positioned alongside the hull of the Crowley Progress in port. A series of shots depict the captain on the bridge, followed by aerial footage of the tug and the Crowley Progress alongside a container ship in port. The sequence includes interview footage of the captain speaking directly to the camera, a close-up of a radar screen displaying a map with various green and pink markings, an eye-level shot of the captain monitoring screens and controls on the bridge, and concludes with the aerial shot of the Crowley Progress docked at port, flanked by a tugboat on one side and a vast container ship on the other.
Dean
I love coming down and seeing Progress in action. Every time I walk up the dock, I'm extremely proud of what we produced.
Video footage
Low-angle close-up footage captures Dean standing on the dock, with the Crowley Progress towering behind him. Wide angle footage shows Dean walking up the gangway to board the Progress. An aerial shot captures the Progress moving through a calm waterway surrounded by green fields and trees.
Dean
The decarbonization of the marine industry is really important. And the Progress is part of that effort.
Video footage
A series of shots depict Dean on the upper deck of the vessel, surveying the expansive network of pipes and towering infrastructure. In the background, a serene waterway meanders through a green landscape. The sequence concludes with a wide, low-angle shot of the Crowley Progress docked at a bustling port, framed by a towering crane and stacked containers beneath a dramatic sky where sunlight filters through scattered clouds.
Video footage and animated sequence
We end on a yellow background montage, where we see various people, ending with Dean, successively posing against the yellow background and smiling into the camera. An animated Pecten shape displays at frame-center over the flashing images, yellow neon light appearing to move around the outline in a chasing effect. Successively larger Pecten shapes briefly pulsate out from the original shape.
[Audio]
Shell brand mnemonic played on keys
[Text displays]
Powering Progress Together
© Shell International Limited 2025
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The prior scene transitions with a contraction effect, closing in the shape of the Pecten and disappearing at the center of the frame, leaving a white background. The small classic red and yellow Pecten transitions in to display at frame-center against the white background. Text displays below the Pecten and along lower frame.
[Text displays]
The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this content “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience to reference Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, ‘‘Shell subsidiaries’’ and ‘‘Shell companies’’ as used in this content refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
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Dean SahrI've been extremely lucky that I've been able to be a part of the full spectrum of fuel usage in the shipping sector - switching from heavy fuel operations into lighter fuels and resource treatment, and now into LNG.
Meet Progress
One of Dean’s proudest achievements is seeing Progress going into service – from conception to deployment. Progress is essentially a mobile filling station that glides alongside a customer vessel, supplying it with LNG fuel without interrupting operations; an option onshore bunkering does not offer. Providing bunker fuel to customer vessels during cargo operations keeps the cycle of cargo moving without stoppage. Progress can carry more than 3 million gallons of LNG. It is a 24-hour operation, with the barge on standby whenever a ship needs fuel.
Collaborating on a lower-carbon future
LNG is an alternative marine fuel that can emit less greenhouse gas emissions by up to 23% compared with conventional marine fuel.* Although LNG has an important role to play in the maritime industry’s transition to a net-zero emissions future, progress doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Progress was built out of a large collaborative effort between Shell**, Crowley’s engineering services division, and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, and was specially fitted to deliver LNG to ships with multiple kinds of onboard bunker containment systems.
Shell has the largest LNG bunkering network in the world. Progress refuels LNG ships at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, the third busiest container gateway in the USA, and is chartered to Shell for refueling LNG vessels. Progress is LNG bunkering technology innovation on display. For Dean, he views designing, building, and constructing vessels like a symphony. It takes several parts working together in unison, and he’s already looking forward to building his next vessel.
Dean SahrI love seeing Progress in action. Every time I walk up to the dock, I’m extremely proud of what we produced and how we service customers. The decarbonization of the marine industry is really important, and Progress is part of that effort.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the shipping industry hard to decarbonize?
Why is the shipping industry hard to decarbonize?
The shipping industry is hard to decarbonize for various reasons. Large ships require massive amounts of energy for long voyages and the infrastructure requirements for low carbon alternative fuels are in the early stages of meeting those demands efficiently. Ships are built to last 20-30 years, so the horizon to replace or retrofit existing fleets with emission-reducing technologies extends out over decades. International shipping operates across many countries, making it difficult to implement and enforce climate policies or emissions standards that align globally.
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*Results from Sphera life cycle emission study indicate that LNG can emit less CO2e emissions by up to 23% on a well-to-wake basis compared to very low sulphur fuel oil depending on engine type. Source: O. Schuller, S. Kupferschmid, J. Hengstler and S. Whitehouse, “2nd Life Cycle GHG Emission Study on the Use of LNG as Marine Fuel,” Sphera, 2021.
**The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this content “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience to reference Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this content refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The terms “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
