[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Some ships in northern Europe have been using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as their fuel source for over a decade, with an extremely good
safety record. But as the use of LNG-fuelled vessels spreads to other parts of the world and many more parties become involved, there is a
clear need to standardize LNG bunkering operations at the international level. A new ISO standard will ensure LNG-fuelled vessels can bunker
in a safe and sustainable way.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering is a particular type of operation where LNG fuel is transferred from a given distribution source to an
LNG-fuelled ship. It involves the participation of different stakeholders, from the ship-side, LNG supplier, ports, safety
personnel and administrations.
As demand for LNG-fuelled vessels has increased, so has the demand for practical, cost-effective and efficient LNG bunkering, so there was
an urgent need for an International Standard to ensure LNG bunkering operations could be conducted safely. The new ISO 20519, Ships and
marine technology – Specification for bunkering of liquefied natural gas fuelled vessels, will help operators select vessel fuel providers
that meet defined safety and fuel quality standards.
In recent years, the ships and vessels fuelled with LNG have become larger, transit greater distances and may bunker in a greater number
of ports in different countries. As a result, the number of parties involved in LNG bunkering is growing rapidly. Standardizing safety
practices had become necessary to ensure that, no matter where the bunkering took place, there would be a common set of requirements
that were understood across the board – from LNG provider to ship
personnel.
ISO 20519 contains requirements that are not covered by the IGC Code, the prevailing international code for the safe carriage by sea of
liquefied gases in bulk. It includes the following items:
1. Hardware: liquid and vapour transfer systems
2. Operational procedures
3. Requirement for the LNG provider to provide an LNG bunker delivery
note
4. Training and qualifications of personnel involved
5. Requirements for LNG facilities to meet applicable ISO standards
and local codes“The requirements of ISO 20519 can be incorporated as a management objective into existing management programmes and provide verifiable
compliance,” explains Steve O’Malley, Chair of technical committee ISO/TC 8, Ships and marine technology, subcommittee SC 11, Intermodal and short sea shipping, and Convener of TC 8 working group WG 8 that
developed the standard. This is important, he says, because “the requrement to comply with ISO standards is often incorporated into
business contracts and may also be referenced by local regulations”.Steve also extended his appreciation to ISO technical committee
ISO/TC67 on materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum,petrochemical and natural gas industries, which began the work on this
subject and provided many of the experts for the TC 8 working group.The working group that developed ISO 20519 included specialists from
the maritime industry, equipment manufacturers, the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF), trading companies, class societies, internationalregistries and the US Coast Guard. This sharing of knowledge was
important to produce a standard that was both practical and would promote safety during LNG bunkering operations.
The use of LNG as a vessel fuel is relatively new, so the standard will need to be brought up to date periodically to incorporate lessons
learned over time and technological changes. To facilitate this, a group has been created to track LNG bunkering incidents and help identify
when the standard should be updated.
ISO 20519:2017 was produced at the request of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Commission and the Baltic and
International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the world’s largest international shipping association.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
