Americas News
USCG Issues Additional LNG Bunkering Guidance After Witnessing "Release of LNG and/or Near Misses"
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) this month has released additional and updated guidance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering, which it says comes in response to having observed the "release of LNG and/or near misses" during gas refuelling operations.
"The [USCG's Liquefied Gas Carrier (LGC) National Center of Expertise (NCOE)] has witnessed several LNG bunkering operations over the last few months and seen common errors/failures, some that have resulted in the release of LNG and/or near misses, but also others that have gone very well," the USCG said.
The list of updated recommendations, which is located here, also differentiates between LNG bunkering recommendations specific for U.S. flagged vessels and recommendations for all vessels.
This includes the recommendation that all vessels engaged in LNG bunkering operations should have procedures for inerting, purging, cool down, loading, and testing of Emergency Shutdown Devices (ESDs) similar to what is seen in a Safety Management System (SMS) prior to conducting LNG bunkering.
For U.S. vessels, these procedures should be reviewed by the Coast Guard prior to any LNG
bunkering operation and if the vessel’s initial Inspection for Certification is not complete,
interim procedures should be developed prior to the vessels first bunkering operation.
In a second field notice dated January 7, 2016, USGC issued an LNG Bunkering Job Aid which it says can be used for initial and annual inspections of shore based LNG bunkering facilities, as well as during transfer monitors of LNG bunkering operations from a facility to a vessel.
"Over the last several months the LNGFWDC LNG bunkering facilities sub-committee has
identified the need for a LNG checklist for LNG bunkering operations from a facility to a vessel,
as their highest priority," said USCG.
The check list is available here.
In March, Ship & Bunker reported that classification society DNV GL said USCG guidance on LNG bunkering leverages its guidance on simultaneous operations from its Recommended Practice for "Development and Operation of LNG Bunkering Facilities."
