The United States Coast Guard, through its Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, issued guidance for evaluating simultaneous operations (Simops) during LNG fuel transfer.
The policy letter provides guidance to coast guard captains of the port considering safety issues associated with the simultaneous operations during LNG fuel transfer, which are planned to happen at waterfront facilities handling liquefied natural gas.
Simultaneous operations include passenger and crew embarkation/debarkation, loading of stores and cargo, discharging waste or loading and unloading materials.
Currently, LNG bunkering operations are being performed in several locations in the United States, Port Fourchon, Jacksonville, Seattle-Tacoma.
USCG encourages the involved parties to determine in advance whether simultaneous operations during LNG bunkering will occur and to take adequate actions, based on the policy letter recommendations.
In addition, the notice recommends the LNG transfer procedures should include provisions and mitigation measures for managing simultaneous operations during LNG transfer.
LNG World News Staff