Modalities for the provisioning of LNG as shipping fuel in Flemish Ports

DET NORSKE VERITAS
Report for Departement Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken
Modaliteiten voor het aanbieden van LNG als scheepsbrandstof in Vlaamse havens
MANAGING RISK
2.2.3.2 Other port activities
Floating installations containing LNG (e.g. a local storage facility) are, very strictly speaking,
not covered. However, there are precedents where floating but stationary installations are
considered as fixed installations, equivalent with onshore installations, and are treated
accordingly. The department Milieuvergunningen has internal guidelines stating a clear
position to consider floating but stationary installations as fixed.
Recommendation D3: Consider to explicitly describe the case of floating installations
in Vlarem instead of only having it as an internal guideline. This has to be done on a
regional level and more explicitly by the Flemish Government Department of
Environment, Nature and Energy, division Environmental Permitting.
2.3 Shore-to-ship, ship-to-shore or ship-to-ship transfer standards
The regulatory framework for seagoing vessels that is covered by the International Maritime
Organization does not include the transfer of materials from one vessel to another. Advice and
support of the transfer operations are captured in standards and best practices of societies like
SIGTTO and OCIMF. These two societies and their applicable standards and best practices
that can be useful for LNG are given below:
2.3.1 The society of international gas tanker & terminal operators (SIGTTO)
The Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal operators is an organization formed to
promote high operating standards and best practices in gas tankers and terminals throughout
the world. It provides technical advice and support to its members and represents their
collective interests in technical and operational matters. The SIGTTO guidelines are focused
on large scale LNG transfer from LNG carriers, both for transfer to terminal and for Ship to
Ship LNG transfer. Some of the guidelines designed for large scale LNG operations, can be
used for bunkering of LNG as well. SIGTTO publishes guidelines and “white papers” with
the purpose of sharing expertise and best practices.
The two most important guidelines that are applicable for the ship to ship bunkering of LNG
are:
Ship to Ship Transfer Guide (Liquefied Gases) - 2nd edition (OCIMF/SIGTTO)
The “ship to ship transfer guide Liquefied Gases” covers the ship to ship transfer of liquefied
gases at sea. The guideline is originally written for the transfer of LPG but may be used for
LNG as well. The guide will be of use in the event of emergency lightning operations,
providing checklists for each stage of the operation. This guide aims to familiarize ship's
Masters, ship and barge operators and charterers/traders with the general principles of
liquefied gas transfer operations.
LNG Ship to Ship Transfer Guidelines
DNV Reg. No.: 13YB7C6-3
Revision No. 2 PART II
Date :2012-07-10 Page 18 of 63 CONFIDENTIAL