Over the past 40 years, LNG ships have made more than 45,000 safe deliveries worldwide covering more than 100 million miles.
Maritime standards and regulations
LNG ships are designed for safe operation in accordance with international marine classification standards, and U.S. Coast Guard and international regulations. These rules specify:
• vessel and cargo tank arrangements;
• types and thickness of the hull and cargo system materials;
• types of monitoring and alarm systems, including back-up systems.
Industry initiatives
In addition to government regulations, there are maritime industry standards, codes, training, inspections and operating procedures in place for the safe design, construction and operation of ships. All of the ship's crew must be certified for LNG operations.
Cargo protection
LNG ships are designed with double hulls with two layers of steel, each approximately 3/4 inch thick. The space between the steel hulls is approximately 10 feet wide on the sides and approximately 10 feet on the bottom. Gas detectors and safety alarms continuously monitor for cargo leaks.
