CLNG holds signing ceremony for LNG standards

The Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) is to hold a signing ceremony June 5 between the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, State maritime academies, and maritime union training facilities to enter into a formal agreement to develop national Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) training standards for U.S. mariners.

 

Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Superintendent Joseph D. Stewart, and the presidents and superintendents from the state maritime academies and union training facilities were to participate in the ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The growing worldwide demand for natural gas has caused the LNG industry to significantly increase the number of double-hulled LNG vessels in operation.  Orders for new LNG vessels are also on the rise.  To help ensure the continued safe transportation of LNG, it is important that more U.S. mariners are properly trained and qualified to serve on such vessels.  To tackle this challenge and to ensure that U.S. standards meet the most rigorous international standards, CLNG and MARAD have been working with representatives from all United States state and federal maritime academies and union schools to develop a common set of LNG training competencies for all U.S. mariners sailing aboard LNG vessels.

These training standards will be used to expand existing programs and to develop new educational programs to ensure that U.S. mariners have the very best opportunity to participate in the future of the LNG industry.  These programs will provide entry level mariners, both licensed and unlicensed, prospects for immediate employment into the LNG industry upon graduation.  Additionally, the programs will facilitate the retraining and/or recertifying of current mariners who are sailing on vessels other than those carrying LNG and to permit a transition into LNG service.