SGMF Issues First LNG Bunkering Safety Guidelines

The Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) has released its first edition of the LNG Bunkering – Safety Guidelines.

The objective of the guidelines is to provide the bunkering industry with the best practices in order to ensure that gas- fuelled ships are re-fuelled with high levels of safety, integrity and reliability.

The LNG Bunkering – Safety Guidelines include chapters on LNG Hazards (Leaks, Cryogenic, LNG Fire and Explosion), Safety Systems (Roles, People in Charge, Communications and Emergency Systems), Bunkering Procedures (Before, During and After) and Specific Safety Guidance for Ship to Ship, Shore to Ship and Truck to Ship Bunkering.

The working group responsible for the Guidelines consisted of employees from SGMF members including the Swedish Maritime Authority, Shell, MOL Group, Lloyd’s Register, DNV GL, Norwegian Maritime Authority, Alkane Marine and IAPH.

Mark Bell, General Manager at SGMF, said that this was a critical time for the industry to have reliable guidelines that everyone can follow but also now build upon with experience of operations.

Image: SCF