Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/578020
54 Proceedings Fall 2015 www.uscg.mil/proceedings International Standards There are, however, a number of standards (existing and under development) we can look to for guidance. The Inter- national Maritime Organization (IMO) is developing a code for gas fueled ships; the International Organization for Stan- dardization (ISO) has guidance documents under develop- ment; and several of the major classifcation societies now have rules or guides for vessels that use natural gas as fuel. The Coast Guard has taken an active role at the IMO in developing international standards for natural gas-fueled ship design. In June of 2015, the IMO adopted a new Inter- national Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low- Flashpoint Fuels. Building off previous work published as interim guidelines under IMO Resolution MSC.285(86), this new standard will come into force as a mandatory code under SOLAS in January 2017. We have also been involved with the ISO in developing new standards for natural gas as a marine fuel. For example, a recently published IMO technical specifcation provides guidance on bunkering safety for LNG fueling operations, and ISO's Technical Committee on Ships and Marine Tech- nology is working to produce a second standard focusing on bunkering equipment, operational procedures, and fuel quality documentation. Current Regulatory Landscape Since using LNG as a marine fuel is relatively new in the U.S., there are no federal regulations to address shipboard gas-fueled systems. Initially, as the Coast Guard began to see design proposals back in 2011, this left such systems to be considered on a case-by-case basis, establishing equiva- lency to similar requirements under various vessel safety regulations. Eventually, requirements will be developed to cover using liquefed natural gas as fuel, but in the mean- time, LNG-fueled vessel approval involves a concept review Using natural gas instead of oil as a shipboard propulsion fuel is rapidly becoming a leading alternative for meet- ing domestic and international air emission requirements, including the limits for emission control areas adopted in recent amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Annex VI. Current pricing and availability also makes natural gas competitive in comparison to more traditional marine fuels. However, with limited exception, existing U.S. regulations do not address commercial vessel natural gas fuel systems design or installation. Additionally, current Coast Guard regulations do not address the use of natural gas as fuel except as a means of controlling cargo boil-off on liquefed natural gas (LNG) carriers. LNG as Fuel Projects and new design/operating standards. by Mr. tiMothy E. MEyErs, P.E. General Engineer U.S. Coast Guard Offce of Design and Engineering Standards Mr. scott v. lAburn Senior Marine Inspector U.S. Coast Guard Liquefed Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise Liquefed Gas Production, Transportation, and Use Liquefed Gas Carrier NCOE personnel examine a cargo containment system mock-up. U.S. Coast Guard photo.