USCG releases guidance letters on LNG bunkering procedures
Responding to the industry’s need for more guidance on procedures related to liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering, the US Coast Guard (USCG) has published two new Policy Letters on LNG Bunkering, Personnel Training and Waterfront Facilities. With regard to simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) USCG points to DNV GL’s Recommended Practice for “Development and Operation of LNG Bunkering Facilities” for guidance, the DNV GL press release said.
Since US ports do not have LNG liquefaction and storage facilities yet, ships will have to rely on small-scale bunkering for the time being. This practice harbors certain risks that had not been addressed by US legislation until now, but are covered in DNV GL’s Recommended Practice RP-0006: 2014-01 on the Development and Operation of LNG bunkering. In 2013, DNV GL developed the Recommended Practice to help facilitate the development of an international LNG infrastructure while waiting for the final release of the ISO 18683 workgroup document on systems and installations for supply of LNG as fuel to ships. It was released on 15 January 2015 and builds on DNV GL’s RP.
USCG’s LNG Expert Ken Smith, General Engineer at the Office of Vessels’ and Facilities’ Operating Standards, recently said: “DNV GL is already doing everything the USCG could hope for and more, and we recognize and appreciate the vast experience and in-depth expertise that DNV GL has when it comes to LNG as fuel, both here in the US and internationally. The recommended practices and standards that you issue and the work you have done in other technical committees are helping to shape our policies and regulations in this area.”
Simultaneous operations like loading/unloading of cargo or passenger movements at the terminal during bunkering operations require special attention.
Most of the LNG-fuelled ships and a large number of LNG tankers sailing the oceans today are built to DNV GL’s classification rules.
DNV is a global provider of risk management services with the purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment. After a merger of two leading classification societies DNV and GL on September 12 2013, DNV GL has become the world’s largest ship and offshore classification society, the leading technical advisor to the global oil and gas industry, and a leading expert for the energy value chain including renewables and energy efficiency. We’ve also taken a position as one of the top three certification bodies in the world. DNV GL provides classification and technical assurance services along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. The Company also provides certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. DNV GL operates in more than 100 countries and has 16,000 employees.