New LNG Bunkering Safety Training Course
The Maritime Simulation Institute in Middletown, R.I., is developing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering safety training course, with the first session to begin in June for Harvey Gulf International Marine. The 45-hour bunkering course for Harvey’s LNG bunkering persons-in-charge (PIC) will be offered ahead of any U.S. Coast Guard regulations governing LNG bunkering. The first course likely will include Harvey Gulf master’s, mates and engineers. Courses will be offered at MSI facilities at Texas A&M outside Houston and at MFA, the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow, west of Boston.
Harvey hired MSI as it launches its first dual fuel offshore supply vessel, which is designed to run primarily on LNG. The OSV Harvey Energy – powered by Wärtsilä 34DF engines – is being built at TY Offshore yard in Gulfport, Miss., and is the first U.S.-flag vessel designed to operate on natural gas.
“Harvey Gulf is committed to using state-of-the-art vessels that provide clean, safe, efficient, reliable and competitive operations. Key to this paradigm shift is ensuring that our ships’ crews are properly trained in the bunkering of LNG,” said Chad Verret, EVP, Harvey Gulf Alaska & LNG operations.
In February, the U.S. Coast Guard published CG-OES 2-14, Guidelines for Liquefied Natural Gas Fuel Transfer Operations and Training of Personnel on Vessels Using Natural Gas as Fuel. The final policy letter will establish the guidelines for fuel transfer operations and training of personnel working on vessels that use LNG as a fuel and conduct transfer operations in waters subject to jurisdiction. MSI is working with the USCG and a number of classification societies to develop this and other training courses.
(As published in the June 2014 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News - http://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeReporter)