The Liquefied Gas National Center of Expertise (LGC NCOE) has released Field Notice 02-16, ‘Domestic Vessel LNG Fuel System Inspection Job Aid’. This notice augments existing policy with a recommended checklist specific for domestic LNG fueled vessels. The job aid has been field tested onboard vessels using LNG as fuel in the U.S. by local field units and can be used for initial and annual inspections and periodic safety test procedures of LNG fuel systems used onboard domestic vessels.
The checklist was developed by the LGC NCOE’s LNG as a Fuel Workforce Development Committee (LNGFWDC) which is comprised of Coast Guard LNG facility inspectors, marine inspectors and gas carrier examiners from Sectors Puget Sound, San Diego, Mobile and Jacksonville; MSUs Texas City, Port Arthur and Houma; and staff offices from the 7th and 8th Coast Guard Districts, Coast Guard Atlantic and Pacific Areas, and Headquarters Offices of Design and Engineering Standards, Operating and Environmental Standards, Port and Facility Compliance and Commercial Vessel Compliance.
The LNGFWDC is utilizing their collective experience, case studies and tools from industry and other government agencies around the globe to identify nationally consistent workforce development recommendations for LNG fueling and LNG bunkering operations throughout the United States. The committee is currently developing a LNG Bunkering Job Aid for vessel to vessel LNG bunkering operations and a LNG as a fuel pre-commissioning checklist; both will be available on Maritime Commons upon release.
The LGC NCOE is one of six nationwide national centers of expertise focusing on providing industry specific consultation and services to the Coast Guard and maritime industry. The LGC NCOE provides technical advice on matters related to liquefied gas in the maritime community; liquefied gas training and outreach opportunities; liquefied gas workforce forecasting and performance development; and technical expertise for the establishment of local and national liquefied gas guidance, policy and regulations.
This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.