The following is the text of a news release from Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT):
(PARIS) — GTT North America Inc. and GTT Training Ltd. have announced the award of the first contract of its kind for the development and implementation of a comprehensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) training program for the 2,200-cubic-meter LNG bunker barge currently under construction at Conrad Industries Shipyard in Orange, Texas, following the order received by GTT North America from Conrad Industries in February 2015. The contract was executed with the barge's owner TOTE on April 6 to initiate the program for training of the tug and LNG barge crew, which will ultimately be subject to U.S. Coast Guard approval.
At present, there are no LNG-specific competency and training standards for LNG barges that can serve as the basis to establish crew credentials and qualifications by the flag authorities. GTT North America will collaborate with its sister company, GTT Training, and with STAR Center, an internationally recognized and USCG-accredited LNG training center located near Miami, Fla., and TOTE to fully develop the training program and obtain the necessary approval from the Coast Guard.
“We are excited to partner with GTT and other stakeholders in developing a training program that sets the standard for safety when working with LNG,” said Peter Keller, executive vice president of TOTE.
“We are proud and honored by this agreement with TOTE. It demonstrates GTT group’s capability to provide TOTE a wide range of services, beyond the containment system technology, to assure their personnel are certified and competent to safely conduct all operations related to the LNG bunker barge,” said Philippe Berterottière, CEO of GTT.
After having obtained recently a first contract for the G-Sim simulator, the GTT group confirms its capability of offering a state-of-the-art training solution not only to the LNG supply industry but also to LNG users.
