The Coast Guard’s Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise’s (LGC NCOE) coordinated a four-day “LNG as Fuel Workshop” for future inspectors of LNG-fueled vessels. The LGC NCOE with support from industry experts and the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Center (MSC) and the Office of Design & Engineering Standards (CG-ENG), provided Coast Guard marine inspectors from across the U.S. with an in-depth understanding of LNG fueled engines, bunkering evolutions, risk analysis, membrane containment systems, type C tanks, vessel operations, plan review and firefighting techniques.
This team of ‘LNG as Fuel’ specialists was comprised of several industry representatives from ABS’s Global Gas Solutions Team, Applied Cryogenic Technology, Chart Industries, Cheniere Energy, Conrad Orange Shipyard, DNV GL’s Risk Advisory Services, Eagle LNG, Gaztransport & Technigaz, Harvey Gulf International, and Texas A&M’s Emergency Services Training Institute.
The four-day workshop provided classroom instruction, exercises, a live LNG demonstration, a trip to see the construction of type C storage tanks and visit to the shipyard constructing the U.S.’s first LNG bunker barge. Those who attended will be using this training to inspect LNG fueled vessels being constructed and/or operated in ports around the country. There are already five LNG fueled vessels operating within the U.S. with several additional vessels under construction for US service.
The workshop’s project coordinator, Lt. Ethan Lewallen of the LGC NCOE said in his opening remarks, “The use of Liquefied Gas as fuel for vessels is no longer a novel idea. Industry has recognized the need and the positive economic and environmental impact it has. LNG as a maritime fuel is already in ports throughout the US and growing.”
He concluded his remarks by stating, “Liquefied gas as a fuel is still new for Coast Guard marine inspectors, so we need to work with technical staff internal to the Coast Guard and industry partners to determine how to best inspect these complex systems.”
Coast Guard attendees and industry presenters from the LGC NCOE’s LNG as Fuel Workshop during a visit to Applied Cryogenics Technologies to witness the construction of type C liquefied gas tanks. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
About LGC NCOE
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.