US LNG entrant NorthStar Midstream plans to build a fleet of small-scale LNG carriers for both bunkering and trading operations around the US coast.

The Oaktree Capital Management-controlled company has just ordered its first LNG barge that will operate out of its JAX LNG liquefaction facility in Jacksonville, Florida, and set up transportation arm Polaris New Energy.

Tim Casey, NorthStar's senior vice president of LNG, told TradeWinds that Polaris’ intention is to use its partnership in Jacksonville and expand that throughout the US on the west coast, Gulf...