Safety Standards for
LNG Fueled Vessels
Marine Chemist Qualification Board
Baltimore, MD
October 23, 2014
CAPT John W. Mauger
Office of Design & Engineering Standards
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
United States Coast Guard
Marine Safety, Security, and Stewardship
How to Proceed Without Requirements
for Gas Fueled Vessel Design?
o Federal Regulations do not
address natural gas as fuel
o Need to establish equivalency
to Title 46 CFR
CFR
o Vessel-specific concept review
o Design Basis – framework of
standards and requirements
Equivalent level of safety to
Title 46 CFR
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International GFS Standards
Class Society Rules & Guides
Interim Guidelines on Safety for
Natural Gas-Fuelled Engine
Installations in Ships
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IMO Standards
o IMO Resolution MSC 285 (86)
–
“Interim Guidelines on Safety for Natural Gasfuelled Engine Installations in Ships”
–
Adopted 1 June 2009
o International Gas Fueled Ships Code (IGF Code)
–
Draft completed - Sep, 2014
–
Anticipated implementation - 2017
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U.S. Review of Gas-Fueled Vessels
Policy Letter 01-12
o streamlined review process
o provides “equivalent level of safety” to
46 CFR
o Baseline: IMO Interim Guidelines
o add’l requirements & modifications
o designs outside policy can still apply for
Concept Review
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Safety Considerations
o Fuel System
–
Machinery space
configuration
–
Tank placement
–
Tank & piping
requirements
o Gas Detection
–
o Hazardous Locations
–
Classification of areas
–
Electrical equipment
o Fire Protection
–
Installed firefighting
systems
–
Fire detection
System certification
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Approval Process for
U.S. Gas-Fueled Ship Designs
ensure design meets
Policy Letter 01-12
or
Concept Review
USCG Marine Safety Center
Detailed Plan Review
USCG Marine Safety Center
Inspection
USCG Local Sector
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Policy Letter 01-12 – Limitations
Policy does not address the following:
o fuel stored as compressed natural gas (CNG)
o single-wall gas piping in engine room (ESD-concept)
o fuel tanks below accommodation spaces
o Portable fuel tanks, or “tank-tainers”
Limited Scope:
o vessel & system design, not operational requirements
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Regulation of Fueling Infrastructure
Shore to Ship
Tank Truck to Ship
Ship to Ship
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U.S. Coast Guard Policy Letters
Short Term Solution to Bridge Gaps:
o Policy letters drafted to bridge gaps in regulations
until regulations can be developed.
o Policy letters based on existing regulations
applicable to LNG cargo operations scaling down to
fit needs and accomplish safety mission.
o Aligned with ongoing work of leading international
organizations (e.g. IMO, ISO, SIGTTO, etc.).
o Utilize existing USCG OCMI/COTP authorities to
implement existing regs & evaluate safe
alternatives.
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Next Steps?
o Support IMO in developing IGF Code
o Participate with other Standards Organizations
• ISO Bunkering Standard for LNG Fuel
• NFPA 52 Vehicular Gaseous Fuel Systems – Marine Chapter
o Initiate Update to Code of Federal Regulations
• Address use of LNG as fuel
• Incorporate IMO IGF Code & other standards where
appropriate
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Properties of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
o 96% methane (CH4)
H
one of cleanest burning fuels
o liquefied at -259⁰ F (-162⁰ C)
stored in cryogenic materials
o expands 600 times when vaporized
o liquid density 42% of water
H
C
H
H
ideal for transport as liquid
“floats on surface”
o vapor lighter than air at ambient temp
o colorless; odorless; non-toxic; non-corrosive
o high self ignition temperature 1,103⁰ F (595 ⁰ C)
o flammable range 5% to 15% in air
burns with a “lazy flame”
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System Arrangement
Dependant on Vessel Type
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Typical
LNG Fuel System Components
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Enclosed Space Entry / Hot Work
o Text in draft IGF Code
o Initiate Update to Code of Federal Regulations
• Address use of LNG as fuel
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Enclosed Space Entry / Hot Work
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Industry Concerns
o Ability to leave LNG fuel in tanks while in shipyard / drydock
o Uncertainty over requirements imposed by
marine chemist / hot work permits
o Need to develop guidance / procedures /best practices for
maintenance & repair
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Thank You
CAPT John Mauger
Office of Design & Engineering Standards
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC
www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg521
United States Coast Guard
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