Chief executive officer Anthony Chiarello said the bid packages for the project are in the process of being finalised.

The New Jersey-headquartered Saltchuk group company, which is the parent of liner operators Sea Star Line and Totem Ocean Trailer Express, is aiming to convert its two Orca-class ships to the operate on the cleaner-burning fuel.

The 7,200-lane-metreMidnight Sun and North Star (both built 2003), which both qualify for domestic trades under the US Jones Act cabotage law, operate between the US mainland and Alaska for Totem Ocean.

The