bunkering

gas as a
marine fuel
safety guidelines.

training & competence contractual safety technical environmental

Introduction
This publication provides guidance to all the parties directly involved in the
bunkering of ships with liquefied natural gas (LNG). It aims to ensure that
natural gas-fuelled ships are re-fuelled with high levels of safety, integrity
and reliability – at least equivalent to the levels that exist in marine
carriage and transfer by ship.

Because of LNG’s cryogenic nature and volatility, its properties,

characteristics and behaviour differ significantly from conventional marine
fuels – making it potentially more hazardous. However, the experience
of the LNG marine transport industry shows that, when LNG is handled
professionally, the risks can be mitigated and avoided.

These guidelines recognise that there are potential differences in culture

and understanding between suppliers and users of natural gas as a
marine fuel that do not exist in the wider LNG transportation industry. They
have therefore been formulated as the basis for operational regulation of
procedures by:

• maritime administrations;
• port authorities;
• local and national authorities;
• ship owners;
• suppliers of gas as a marine fuel; and
• other relevant parties, including deliverers and the relevant members
of the receiving ship’s crew.

While the use of natural gas as fuel has significant advantages for
air quality – particularly in reducing emissions of sulphur oxides (SOX)
and particulates – methane, the main constituent of natural gas, has
a global warming potential (GWP) of at least 20 times that of carbon
dioxide (CO2). So all LNG bunkering operations must be undertaken with
the utmost diligence and should not allow the venting of natural gas
during normal operations. Attention must be paid to the safe handling
of liquid gas and vapour and to the control of all potential sources of
ignition. Throughout the LNG bunkering chain, each element must be

© Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel II

 environmental
technical
Two tank trucks preparing
for bunkering in Hirtshals.

safety
carefully designed and constructed, and dedicated safety, operational
and maintenance procedures should be in place to be executed by
trained personnel.

These guidelines assume that receiving ships and LNG supply facilities
are designed according to the relevant and applicable codes, regulations
and guidelines, such as those published by the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO), Class Rules, ISO, ASME, EN and NFPA standards, the contractual
Society of International Gas Tankers and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO),
and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF). Relevant
publications from these and other relevant organisations are listed in the
Bibliography section of these guidelines (see Chapter 7).

These Safety Guidelines will develop alongside the codes, regulations

and guidelines referred to in the previous paragraph. They are based
training & competence

on the most currently available information.  Whilst every effort has been
made to ensure that the information is correct, neither the authors nor
SGMF can accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any

© Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel III

consequences of following the Safety Guidelines, which are intended as
guidance to be used at the operator’s risk.

LNG bunkering is a new and developing industry and it is strongly

recommended that incidents and lessons learned are reported and
shared so that future editions of this document can incorporate this
valuable experience. In the event of a near miss, accident or mistake, it is
recommended that the reporting form in Appendix 1 is used and that the
confidential reporting mechanism and procedure noted there is followed.

© Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel IV

 environmental
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................. II

Definitions and Abbreviations.............................................................. VIII

1. Purpose and Scope........................................................................... 1

2. The Physical Properties of LNG....................................................4

technical
3. LNG Hazards.........................................................................................6
3.1. Leaks .............................................................................................6
3.1.1. Hard arms, hoses and connectors..................................6
3.1.2. Liquid expansion...............................................................6
3.1.3. Overfilling of tanks.............................................................6
3.2. Cryogenic Hazards..........................................................................8
3.2.1. Cryogenic burns................................................................9
3.2.2. Brittle fracture.....................................................................9
3.3. LNG Fire and Explosion Hazards.................................................. 10

safety
3.3.1. Flash fire and explosions................................................ 10
3.3.2. Leak and pool fire............................................................. 11
3.3.3. Jet fire................................................................................. 11
3.3.4. Boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE)...... 12
3.4. Other Hazards................................................................................ 12
3.4.1. Rapid phase transition (RPT)........................................... 12
3.4.2. Rollover and stratification................................................ 13
3.4.3. Contamination of the bunker lines................................. 13
3.5. Oxygen Deficiency.......................................................................... 13
contractual
4. Safety Systems................................................................................... 14
4.1. Organisation, Roles and Responsibilities.................................... 15
4.1.1. Person In Charge (PIC)................................................................... 15
4.1.2. Master............................................................................... 16
4.1.3. Manifold watch ............................................................... 16
4.1.4. Hose/equipment watch.................................................. 18
4.1.5. Truck driver....................................................................... 18
training & competence

© Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel V

 4.2. Communications............................................................................ 18
4.2.1. Communications between receiving vessel
and bunker deliverer....................................................... 18
4.2.2. Verbal communications.................................................. 18
4.2.3. Non-verbal communications.......................................... 19
4.3. Hazardous Areas........................................................................... 19
4.3.1. Electrical equipment........................................................ 19
4.4. Safety and Security Zones............................................................. 19
4.5. Cryogenic Protection...................................................................... 21
4.6. Elimination of Ignition Sources from Static Electricity
and Galvanic Currents................................................................... 21
4.7. Emergency Systems...................................................................... 22
4.7.1. Emergency shut-down................................................... 23
4.7.2. Emergency release system............................................ 23
4.8. Fire-fighting.................................................................................... 24

5. Bunkering Procedure...................................................................... 26
5.1. Before Bunkering........................................................................... 26
5.1.1. Compatibility assessment.............................................. 26
5.2. Pre-conditions for Bunkering........................................................ 29
5.2.1. Pre-bunker transfer checklist......................................... 29
5.2.1.1. Weather........................................................................... 30
5.2.1.2. Communications............................................................ 30
5.2.1.3. Lighting............................................................................ 30
5.2.1.4. Authorisation/notifications............................................. 30
5.2.2. Mooring........................................................................... 30
5.2.3. Access between receiving vessel and bunker
supplier............................................................................. 31
5.2.4. Preparations and inspections....................................... 32
5.3. Connecting, Leak Testing and Cooling Down............................. 33
5.3.1. Connecting...................................................................... 33
5.3.2. Leak testing and purging............................................... 34
5.3.3. Cool-down....................................................................... 34
5.4. During Bunker Transfer................................................................. 34
5.4.1. Supervision...................................................................... 34
5.4.2. Bunker transfer sequence............................................. 35
5.4.2.1. Bunker transfer............................................................... 35

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 environmental
5.4.2.2.Topping up...................................................................... 36
5.4.2.3.Vapour management.................................................... 36
5.5. After Bunker Transfer .................................................................... 36
5.5.1. Post-bunker transfer checklist....................................... 36
5.5.2. Draining and purging of the transfer lines....................37
5.5.3. Disconnection of hoses/arms........................................37

technical
6. Situation Specific Safety Guidance.......................................... 38
6.1. Ship-to-ship Bunkering................................................................. 38
6.2. Shore-to-ship Bunkering............................................................... 38
6.2.1. Truck-to-ship bunkering................................................. 38
6.2.1.1. Unknown quay or jetty................................................... 40
6.2.2. Fixed shore installation-to-ship bunkering................... 41
6.3. Cassette Bunkering ...................................................................... 42
6.4. Simultaneous Operations............................................................. 44
6.5. Emergency Response................................................................... 44

safety
7. Bibliography......................................................................................... 46

8. Appendices ...........................................................................................47
Appendix 1 Incident Reporting Form................................................. 48
Appendix 2 Bunkering Checklists...................................................... 49
Appendix 3 Tank Type Definitions...................................................... 65
Appendix 4 Rollover – Basic Thermodynamics.................................67

Biographies .............................................................................................. 68
contractual
training & competence

M/S Bergensfjord a 100% gas-fuelled car/passenger ferry

© Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel VII

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