Lt. Ethan Lewallen provides an overview of the Coast Guard’s examination process on liquefied gas carriers and how it can impact terminal operations.

Submitted by Lt. Ethan Lewallen, Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Excellence

Staff from the Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise (LGC NCOE) delivered Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) training to Cheniere Corpus Christi’s Person in Charge (PICs) and Sector Corpus Christi Coast Guard personnel. This training was designed to prepare Coast Guard inspectors and Cheniere PICs ahead of the first vessel arrival scheduled for the end of the year. This LNG export terminal is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and is expected to have over 100 LNG carrier arrivals in 2019.

The training covered the chemical and physical properties of LNG, to include flammability, lower explosive limit, compression, cryogenic characteristics, and the general arrangement of LNG carriers, their safety systems and cargo operations. The LGC NCOE also discussed LNG incident case studies, LNG terminals, the Coast Guard’s examination processes, and common deficiencies found on liquefied gas vessels. In addition, the students were given a tour of Cheniere’s new LNG export terminal.

This training was mutually beneficial and a proactive step for both the PICs and regulators alike who will share responsibility ensuring the safe handling of LNG during the transfer from Cheniere’s waterfront export facility to the vessels that are carrying it.

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.

For more information on the LGC NCOE, please visit their website

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.