Proceedings Of The Marine

FALL 2015

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.

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56 Proceedings Fall 2015 www.uscg.mil/proceedings policies discussed above, close gaps in current regulations to address liquefed natural gas as fuel, and seek where pos- sible to incorporate by reference applicable international standards. About the authors: Mr. Tim Meyers is the Coast Guard's lead engineer on regulatory and policy development for the safe design of natural gas-fueled vessel systems and represents the U.S. in developing the International Maritime Organization's International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels. Mr. Meyers has more than 24 years of experience in enforcement, interpretation, and development of maritime safety and security regulations. He holds a bachelor's degree in applied science from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Virginia, and is a registered professional engineer. Mr. Scott LaBurn is the Coast Guard's subject matter expert on vessels using LNG as fuel. He is also the Coast Guard's primary liaison to the Society of Gas as a Marine Fuel. Mr. LaBurn graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and has more than 40 years of maritime experience in shipboard and shoreside environments. In February 2015, the Offce of Operating and Environmen- tal Standards published two policy letters to address opera- tional aspects of using liquefed natural gas as fuel and to provide clear guidance on how existing regulations will apply to LNG fuel transfers. Since port-specifc considerations often come into play, the local Coast Guard captain of the port makes fnal decisions with regard to facility requirements and bunkering opera- tions. Therefore, anyone considering a vessel or facility proj- ect involving LNG fuel should start discussions early on with the Coast Guard sector offce that has jurisdiction in their operating area. Barge Design The Coast Guard has also received proposals to use LNG barges as bunkering vessels or to transport liquefed natu- ral gas from a source of supply to small-scale LNG fueling terminals. Work was completed in April 2015 on CG-ENG Policy Letter 02-15, Design Standards for U.S. Barges Intend- ing to Carry Liquefed Natural Gas in Bulk. The Coast Guard's Chemical Transportation Advisory Com- mittee provided valuable input in developing this policy letter, which draws on existing requirements for barges car- rying liquefed fammable gases under 46 CFR 38, as well as the self-propelled gas carrier requirements in 46 CFR 154. Designers may use the new policy to gain acceptance on cer- tain LNG barge proposals without undergoing a complete vessel concept review. Moving Forward As the relatively new LNG fuel industry continues to mature and grow, the Coast Guard will further refne its policy, continue standards development work within the international community, and likely transition from pro- viding policy guidance to putting into place a more per- manent regulatory solution. Ultimately, this could include initiating a rulemaking to incorporate the provisions of the policy letters and international standards regarding design- ing and operating LNG-fueled vessels and associated LNG fuel bunkering operations. Such a project would build on knowledge gained in developing and implementing the For more information: History and statistics courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard Offce of Design and Engineering Standards and the U.S. Coast Guard Liquefed Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise. CG-521 Policy Letter 01-12 is available for download from the Coast Guard Offce of Design and Engineering Standards website at www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg521. OES Policy Letters 01-15 and 02-15 provide guidance on LNG fuel transfer operations, training personnel serving on those vessels, and an overview of existing U.S. regulations applicable to vessels and waterfront facilities conducting LNG marine fuel bunkering operations. The policy letters can be down- loaded from CG-OES's website at www.uscg. mil/hq/cg5/cg522/cg5222/PolicyLetters.asp.

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