SIGTTO at 40 YEARS - a Commemorative Publication

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AT 40 YEARS 1979-2019

Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators Ltd A COMMEMORATIVE SIGTTO ANNIVERSARY PUBLICATION 2019 Qatargas - ultimate reliability in LNG supplies Qatargas - ultimate reliability in LNG supplies

AT 40 YEARS A SIGTTO 40th anniversary commemorative publication Contents listing

9 Preface: The editor introduces 32 SIGTTO Miscellany II: A further 56 Steffen Jacobsen, about to efrainr his SIGTTO at 40, outlining the purpose random selection of photos SIGTTO President role, praises and the content of the publication from the Society’s past the Society’s communal spirit, inherent knowledge banks 11 Introduction: SIGTTO 33 Past SIGTTO General Manager and emphasis on out-reach General Manager Andrew Clifton Robin Gray pays tribute to the welcomes readers to the anniversary early industry leaders and teachers 59 Iain Macneil of Witherbys, publication, confident heyt will who brought significant benefits SIGTTO’s publisher, traces a gas find much to discover and enjoy to the Society’s membership shipping career that has evolved in tandem with the industry’s NGO 12 A quick overview of the current 39 In the first of two articles former state of play in the gas ship and SIGTTO General Manager Bill Wayne 60 Eng Abdullah Fadhalah Al-Sulaiti, terminal market shows why considers three early natural Nakilat’s CEO, provides liquefied this is currently the most buoyant gas shipping technologies yet gas insights afforded to him sector in commercial shipping to meet their initial promise by his status as one of SIGTTO’s longest serving Board members 16 Andrew Clifton provides a potted 42 Early SIGTTO Technical Adviser history of SIGTTO covering propitious Dick Chadburn remembers the 1990s 62 A late arrival to gas shipping, Tony beginnings, key people, as eventful years for the Society, Galt describes the SIGTTO projects major achievements including due to circumstances he’s been involved with over the beyond its control past 20 years while representing 20 A SIGTTO timeline complements four leading companies the potted history, providing additional 45 Doug Brown, an even earlier key information by bullet-pointing Technical Adviser, fondly remembers 65 Mark Ross of Chevron Shipping, the highlights of four Society decades the challenges of organising SIGTTO a former SIGTTO President, Panel Meetings in the pre-internet days explains how the Society’s 22 SIGTTO Miscellany I: A random guidelines facilitated his selection of photos from 48 Ryoichi Shirato of TEPCO describes company’s LNGC fleet build-up the Society’s past LNG’s introduction to Japan 50 years ago and his company’s close links with 66 Samir Bailouni of Nakilat looks 23 SIGTTO’s library of industry SIGTTO since the Society’s inception back on four decades of experience best practice guidelines is constantly with gas carriers and three decades being refreshed; technological 50 Robin Buncombe, SIGTTO’s second- of involvement with SIGTTO advances and supply chain ever Technical Adviser, examines the extensions have intensified activity need to get the right foundation stones 68 Chris Snape describes how his in place for the fledgling association time as a SIGTTO Technical 27 SIGTTO Panel Meetings and Regional Adviser benefited his orkingw Forums have enabled the Society’s 52 SIGTTO Miscellany III: An life, and then identifies some out-reach to keep pace with the global additional random selection of challenges facing a fast- spread of liquefied gas activities photos from the Society’s past expanding industry

30 SIGTTO has recently established a 53 Bruce Keer, SIGTTO’s third General 71 Bermuda-based Edwin Mortimer, Human Element Committee and a Manager, looks back a generation, only the Society’s second-ever Floating LNG Installations to a time when the Society company secretary, recounts Subcommittee to accommodate was preparing for more flexible, his service in that role for industry developments multi-terminal LNG trading over three decades >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 5 Contents Listing

AT 40 YEARS

A SIGTTO 40th ANNIVERSARY Terminal flexibility is now the order of the day – Montoir in France is able to transfer LNG cargoes between the ships moored at its two jetties COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION 72 In the first of two contributions, 91 Steve Allibone, Chair of SIGTTO’s July 2019 Chris Clucas offers food for thought Human Element Committee, on the role of SIGTTO in helping industry describes the work of the Society’s Society of International assimilate recent technological advances newest plenary body in the context of continued safe operations Gas Tanker and Terminal 74 Richard Gilmore, currently Chair of Operators Ltd (SIGTTO) SIGTTO’s Panel Meetings, highlights 92 Currently chairing SIGTTO’s General 5th Floor, 42 New Broad Street the rapid emergence of Greek shipowners Purposes Committee, Mark Hodgson London EC2M IJD, UK as major players in the LNG sector outlines that body’s work to ensure ongoing success for the Tel: +44 20 7628 1124 77 Gavin Sutcliffe of Gastech charts liquefied gas sector Direct: +44 20 3941 3260 the development of a close relationship E-mail: [email protected] between SIGTTO and the industry’s 95 Bruno Dabouis of Bureau Veritas Web site: www.sigtto.org leading conference and exhibition event focuses on the challenges facing a leading Twitter@SIGTTO LNGC class society as it keeps pace Contact: Erin Rydings 78 Roger Roue describes the crowning with liquefied gas sector developments Receptionist glory of his long tenure as a SIGTTO Technical Adviser, and one 98 In the second of his two articles Editor: Mike Corkhill of the Society’s most significant Bill Wayne spells out the key projects of recent years elements of risk attendant on Design: Jez Harris Design bringing an LNG project to fruition jezharrisdesign.com 80 Ed Carr of MOL, a former SIGTTO Board member and long- 101 Chris Clucas, in the second Printing: Warners (Midlands) PLC term supporter of the Society, of his two articles, reminisces looks back on an LNG shipping on a career that has the potential career that also spans 40 years to inspire new entrants considering a commitment to liquefied gases 83 TOTAL’s Luc Gillet, a past President of the Society, and Peter Justesen 105 Marc Hopkins explains how give an insight into how SIGTTO has exerted quite a pull an energy major derives benefit on him over the years, calling from SIGTTO membership him to arms on numerous occasions to fulfil ariousv roles for the Society 84 James MacHardy, SIGTTO’s sixth AT 40 YEARS General Manager, looks back 15 years 109 Philippe Berterottière of GTT outlines 1979-2019 to the start of liquefied gas shipping’s how his company’s close links with great transition to the modern era SIGTTO have intensified since the establishment of GTT Training Ltd 87 LCDR Dallas Smith of the US Coast Guard reports on the 110 SIGTTO Miscellany IV: Another fostering of a partnership selection of photos from the Society’s past

between SIGTTO and his agency’s A COMMEMORATIVE SIGTTO ANNIVERSARY PUBLICATION 2019 team of liquefied gas specialists 111 Liquefied gas hippings & terminal timeline: A century of FRONT COVER PHOTOS: 88 David Furnival, BSM and current major developments in the LNG, Top photo: Unigas ships at a Houston SIGTTO President, looks back LPG, ethane and chemical gas sectors LPG/chemical gas terminal, courtesy on his company’s involvement Unigas; and bottom photo: LNG Unity with gas shipping for half a century 122 SIGTTO Miscellany V: A final at Sabine Pass, courtesy TOTAL and with SIGTTO for 20 years selection of photos from the Society’s past

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Preface

help out with an edit of the first edition of Liquefied Gas Handling Principles back in 1986 and some subsequent editing work on other early SIGTTO publications. And throughout those first two decades I took pleasure in informing the readers of my own publications about the role and sterling work of the Society. Since 2002 my path has been firmly aligned with that of the Society, as that is the year in which I started editing the biannual SIGTTO News newsletter, with Issue No 7. We replaced what had been launched in 1998 as a publication with a few pages of typed text and inset photos with a 12- page, full-colour, typeset periodical. More recently, we have done a similar upgrading job on the SIGTTO Annual Reports. Shortly after the appearance of the Time to celebrate! revamped newsletter, SIGTTO issued two special Supplement publications, i.e. Reminiscences of the Pioneering Days of LNG Transport by William duBarry Thomas and Alex Pastuhov in 2003 and Bulk Liquefied Gas by Sea: The SIGTTO Early Years by former Society General C Manager Robin Gray in 2004. M I had the good fortune to work with the Y brought to book authors in getting these two documents together and it is hard to imagine writers CM elcome to SIGTTO’s 40th will read in the following pages it is better qualified for the task. Alex Pastuhov MY anniversary publication. interesting to note how their day jobs helped develop the LNG containment CY This special issue is a and work for SIGTTO intertwined to the system fitted on board Methane Pioneer celebration of the sterling great and strategic benefit of both. while Barry Thomas worked on the designs CMY W service provided by the Society on behalf Taken in aggregate, the personal of Methane Pioneer, Methane Princess K of the liquefied gas shipping and terminal commentaries provide a unique insight and Methane Progress and actually sailed industry over the past four decades. If the into how the LNG and LPG sectors of the on the Methane Pioneer voyage that exemplary safety record achieved by those liquefied gas industry evolved and how carried the first-ever LNG cargo. For his involved with handling liquefied cargoes is SIGTTO helped the industry meet all the part Robin Gray worked at the shipyard any reflection of the positive impact made safety challenges encountered along the in the North East of England that built by the Society over the years, and there is way. Details about early careers and work several of the pioneering LPG carriers. every reason that it should be, then SIGTTO on key SIGTTO projects, such as the revision Another special publication I edited does indeed have something to celebrate. of the International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code was LNG Shipping at 50, a 124-page The backbone of this issue is comprised and IMO Type C tank filling limits, are commemorative issue compiled in 2014 of 31 contributed articles by people who complemented by humorous anecdotes on behalf of SIGTTO and GIIGNL in have played key roles in SIGTTO activities about people, places and situations celebration of a notable golden jubilee. over the years. The compilation includes encountered enroute and views on future The publication received great praise for six submissions by SIGTTO General challenges and optimum solutions. its comprehensive coverage of the past, Managers, six by former Technical Advisers, Not all the contributions have a personal present and future of LNG shipping. five by past and present Presidents and history/SIGTTO experience focus. Some This commemorative publication, too, Vice Presidents and eight by former and of our authors have turned their attention has been a joy to work on. For a start, I’ve current members of the Society’s General to specific issues, such as liquefied gas had a chance to liaise with the authors, Purposes Committee (GPC). There are project risks and certain technologies many of whom I worked with in the also six ‘miscellaneous’ contributions, that, while holding great initial promise, past, and to discover more about their including input from the Company have yet to realise that potential. We contributions to an eminently successful Secretary, SIGTTO’s publisher, the organiser also include a feature on the pioneering Society. Secondly, I’ve also gained greater of the Gastech series of meetings and a industry leaders and teachers who did insight into how SIGTTO established representative of the US Coast Guard. so much to set the liquefied gas industry those early foundation stones that have Many of the contributors are SIGTTO off on the right course 40 years ago. stood it and the liquefied gas industry multi-taskers, having served the Society From a personal point of view, my own in such good stead over the last four in a diverse array of roles other than the journey intersected with SIGTTO on several decades. I know our readers will find one they are most renowned for. All have occasions in the early days, as I commenced much to enjoy in the following pages. had long and varied careers in industry my maritime journalism career at the time and in many of the commentaries you the Society was established. I was able to Mike Corkhill - Editor

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 9

General Manager’s Introduction

1979-2019 All on board for a journey of discovery

annual movements of LNG topped the a cadet at Fleetwood Nautical College 300 million tonnes (mt) mark in 2018 some years previously. Small world! Upon while the trade in LPG is set to exceed the finishing my tenure as Technical Adviser, 100 mt level for the first time this year. I joined BP but maintained my contact The journey from 1979 to 2019, for both with SIGTTO as chair of the Society’s SIGTTO and the gas ship and terminal Panel Meetings from 2008 to 2012. industry in general, has been a memorable It was a great honour and privilege to one. It has also been a voyage of discovery be appointed SIGTTO’s eighth General for all the participants concerned, as we Manager in 2012. Over the past few years faced up to new challenges and corralled an the Society has developed, in tandem with industry’s worth of expertise to meet them. the growth of the industry, into a modern, The first-hand countsac of a number of efficient organisation with more resources at industry stalwarts who have served SIGTTO our disposal and more activities underway over the years have been brought together than ever before. The latest jewel in the for this commemorative issue to give you crown was our move to a new office last some unique insights into the Society’s year after 25 years at our previous City of journey and the foundations of its success. London address. The spacious and bright The Society was formed in October new premises will meet all the Society’s 1979 which, coincidentally, was also anticipated needs for the foreseeable future. the month I joined the UK Merchant When I look at the list of contributors Navy! I spent most of my 19 years at sea, for this publication, it is like a gas shipping would like to extend to you all a very from cadet to master, on gas ships! and terminals hall of fame! There are warm welcome to this, SIGTTO’s I first became aware of SIGTTO in some legendary names on our guest 40th anniversary commemorative the early 1980s through its publications, author list and I have greatly enjoyed their I publication. This special issue including the first edition of Liquefied commentaries. I have always thought of is a celebration of the Society’s first Gas Handling Principles. Little did I know myself as being fairly well up to speed four decades in serving the liquefied that I would be the Society’s General with the annals of the Society but I found gas shipping and terminal industry. Manager when the fourth edition was much new about SIGTTO to inform and It has been quite a journey from the very published! I also recall the early days amuse in the publication’s pages. As you early days of the Society to today. Forty years of the SIGTTO electric ship/shore link will see from the contributed articles, ago gas shipping was a fledgling industry, on board LPG vessels which followed it has been a journey of discovery for minute in comparison to the burgeoning the pendant and pneumatic links. all of us over the past four decades. oil tanker trades. There were only around I met Chris Clucas, a key contributor SIGTTO relies on its members to identify 50 LNG and 150 LPG carriers in service. to the work of the Society over many the need for and develop the industry The LNG fleet primarily served a handful years, for the first time when I was chief best practice guidelines for which the of dedicated projects while LPG carrier officer, and prior to becoming master, Society is renowned. SIGTTO's Board of operations were piecemeal in nature. with Dorchester Maritime. Chris was the Directors plays a key role in directing this Today, there are approximately 1,450 company’s gas consultant at the time and effort, assessing priorities and identifying LPG and chemical gas carriers in service was already an active player in SIGTTO. the most appropriate way to bring the while the LNG fleet, which has now While working at Golar LNG in 2004, necessary resources to bear to achieve the completed over 100,000 safe voyages I was sent on secondment to the Society, desired goal with each project we tackle. without the breach of a containment working alongside James MacHardy and We look forward to continuing system, is nearing 600 vessels. The majority Roger Roue, then General Manager and to apply this winning formula in the of these LNG and LPG ships have been Technical Adviser, respectively. I took over years ahead. In the meantime, until added to the fleet in the last 15 years. as the Society’s second Technical Adviser we celebrate our 50th anniversary in Stemming from these fleet expansions, from Chris Snape, with whom I had been 2029, please enjoy SIGTTO at 40!

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 11 Liquefied Gas Trades

Golden Pass was one of the LNG export projects given the green light to proceed early in 2019; in this case for the construction of liquefaction trains at an existing import terminal

(VLECs) of 87,000 m3. Agreed purchase contracts with US sellers are set to make Wind set fair for ethane the fourth largest gas carrier cargo, after LNG, LPG and ammonia, by 2020. Finally, the volumes being produced liquefied gas trades of ethylene, a key petrochemical building block, are beyond even the needs of the burgeoning US chemical sector. To take The various liquefied gas trades served by the advantage of the excess ethylene that has Society’s ship and terminal members are all on become available in the US, the world’s first worldscale ethylene export terminal the rise, driven by strong demand, plentiful gas is scheduled to begin commissioning in supplies, environmental concerns and supply Texas later this year. The facility will have a 60,000 m3 storage tank and the capacity chain technology advances. Mike Corkhill investigates …. to export 1 mta of ethylene, with relatively high loading rates. Infrastructure projects he two most important drivers commercially feasible. His successful such as these help overcome the bottlenecks for change in the liquefied gas work on the Barnett Shale fields in north hindering growth in seaborne movements. trades in recent years have been central Texas was soon followed by T the development of the vast similar plays in other shale formations, Offsetting global warming shale gas resources of the US and global and the shale gas gold rush was on. Climate change is now a hot political topic concerns about the environment and the Overnight, the US, and the global, worldwide. Although the push for a net ‘zero need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. energy picture was transformed. As the emissions’ environment at some point post- In the early years of the new millennium decade progressed, the flow of US shale 2050 has gained significant momentum, the energy-hungry US was anticipating huge gas was so strong that the operators achieving that goal globally will present volumes of LNG imports to compensate of the now completed but idle LNG major challenges. There will have to be for depleting domestic gas reserves. It is import terminals decided to construct some bridging fuel amongst those currently interesting to note that one of the speakers liquefaction plants on their premises available to fill the gaps that renewables at SIGTTO’s Autumn 2003 Panel Meeting to give their facilities a bi-directional may not be able, for the time being, to cover. in Hamburg predicted that the US would capability and enable LNG exports. Of the fossil fuels, natural gas burns the grow from being a relatively minor LNG It is not just LNG that has been impacted. cleanest and more and more governments market, with just over 4 million tonnes Today, liquefied gas exports from the US are launching green policies which call (mt) received in 2002, to one importing 40 are a particularly notable feature of the on industry to substitute the use of gas in million tonnes per annum (mta) by 2010. strong growth being experienced in a plants that traditionally consumed oil or number of gas trades. The country’s shale coal. China’s recent effort to switch from Shale gas gold rush gas phenomenon has already propelled the coal to gas as part of a programme to clean At about the time of that presentation, US to the top spot amongst LPG-exporting up its polluted cities is a case in point. as a range of new LNG import terminals countries worldwide and holds the potential The good news for gas buyers and were under construction along the US to do the same thing in the LNG sector. consumers is that there are plenty of Gulf Coast, George Mitchell, after many Thanks to hales gas, exports of ethane reserves worldwide. In addition to years of experimentation, discovered from US East and Gulf Coast terminals the US shale gas resources, Australia, a hydraulic fracturing method which have also been inaugurated in recent years, Qatar, Russia and Canada are rich in made the production of shale gas including in very large ethane carriers gas and sizeable new deposits continue

12 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Liquefied Gas Trades

to be discovered, as evidenced by the The US and Russian growth curves are Pakistan 2.2 mt, the Netherlands 1.2 mt, recent finds off Mozambique and far from complete. Thanks to the shale gas Belgium 1.0 mt and Turkey 1.0 mt. in the Eastern Mediterranean. revolution, the US is set to be rivalling Qatar China’s rise up the LNG importers’ The cause of the gas user has also and Australia for the top spot amongst league table has been meteoric, driven been buoyed by the services offered LNG exporters by the early years of the by the government drive to cut pollution by the ship and terminal members of next decade. Recently commissioned through switching from coal to gas use in SIGTTO. The provision of larger, more liquefaction trains continue to build a large number of facilities. The country fuel-efficient and well-manned ships; the towards full output, further new trains purchased 54.0 mt of LNG in 2018, up introduction of improved containment are under construction and a number of from 27.4 mt in 2016, 19.0 mt in 2014 and and propulsion systems; and the growing additional US LNG export schemes have 14.7 mt in 2012. China overtook South use of floating regasification vessels been proposed by project developers. Korea to become the world’s No 2 LNG have enhanced the safe, reliable and As regards Russia, the developers importer in 2017; only Japan, with 82.5 mt efficient deliverability of gas cargoes. behind the Arctic 2 LNG project, located of purchases in 2018, ranks above China. near the Yamal LNG terminal at Sabetta, China commissioned four new LNG Steady LNG export growth expect to give the 19.8 mta scheme import terminals in 2018 while work The seaborne trade in LNG increased by 8.3 the green light sometime in 2019. began on the expansion of three existing per cent year-on-year in 2018, to reach 314 GIIGNL points out that approximately facilities. In addition the construction of million tonnes (mt), following expansions of 25 million tonnes per annum (mta) two further new terminals is underway. 9.9 per cent in 2017 and 7.5 per cent in 2016. of new LNG liquefaction capacity is India is another country with a Our colleagues at the International Group expected to come onstream worldwide growing requirement for LNG imports. of LNG Importers (GIIGNL) in Paris, who in 2019, of which 21 mta is in the US. Inbound shipments in 2018 reached 22.4 maintain comprehensive statistics on global During 2018 final investment decisions mt, the world’s fourth highest import LNG movements, point out that last year’s (FIDs) were taken on three new LNG export total and a 16.6 per cent year-on-year annual trade growth was the LNG industry’s projects which will add an aggregate 21 jump. Three new receiving terminals are third largest on record, after 2010 and 2017. mta to worldwide liquefaction capacity. set for commissioning in 2019, to add Argentina began shipping cargoes in At the end of the year around 66 mta the country’s four existing facilities. recent months, boosting to 21 the number of new LNG production capacity was In its report on the LNG industry in of LNG export nations worldwide. On the under construction around the world, 2018, GIIGNL states that 10 new LNG import side of the equation, there are now of which 53 mta is in North America. import terminals aggregating 22.3 mta in 42 countries around the world receiving More export project FIDs are due in receiving capacity came onstream last year, LNG carrier deliveries of the product, 2019. Golden Pass LNG in the US and while expansion projects at another three following the commencement of shipments Mozambique LNG in East Africa were terminals were completed. At year-end, to Bangladesh and Panama in 2018. given OKs to proceed in the first half the 42 LNG import nations offered a total In terms of additional LNG export while, amongst those expected in the of 868 mta of regasification capacity. capacity in 2018, the prime movers second half, is an approval by Qatar As the calendar flipped vero to 1 January were Australia, the US and Russia. for a major LNG expansion scheme. 2019, eight new floating regasification The three countries were responsible terminals and 14 new shoreside receiving for all eight of the new liquefaction LNG import absorbers facilities were under construction. These 22 trains commissioned last year, with China, South Korea, India, Pakistan, the new import terminals are set to provide an Australia and the US each bringing three Netherlands, Belgium and Turkey absorbed additional 95 mta of LNG receiving capacity. onstream and Russia the other two. most of the additional LNG volumes that The new ustralianA units helped boost became available to the market in 2018. LNG carrier fleet the country’s LNG production by 11.1 mt Last year China’s LNG import volumes According to GIIGNL, the global fleet in 2018, to 66.7 mt. Australia has started rose by 14.9 mt, while shipments to Korea of LNGCs stood at 563 vessels at the operations at seven new LNG export projects jumped by 6.1 mt, to India by 3.2 mt, end of 2018, of which 512 were of > in recent years and, as these new facilities complete their build-up to full production, the country is poised to overtake Qatar to Ethane is set to become the fourth largest gas carrier cargo just a few become the world’s No 1 LNG exporter in short years after deepsea movements of the product were launched the coming months. Qatar shipped 76.8 mt of LNG to global markets in 2018. The new US NGL trains helped increase that country’s exports by 8.4 mt in 2018, to 20.7 mt for the year. The two Russian trains to come onstream are both located at Yamal LNG’s Sabetta terminal in the Russian Arctic. The facility only commenced operations in December 2017 and over the course of last year Yamal LNG exported 7.3 mt of LNG. The surges in output from the two countries mean that the US and Russia are now, respectively, the fourth and fifth largest LNG exporters worldwide, after Qatar, Australia and Malaysia.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 13 Liquefied Gas Trades

> 125,000 m3 or above in size and 33 had a capacity of under 25,000 m3. By The Enterprise terminal in Houston is age 462 ships were 15 years old or less, the world’s busiest LPG export facility and 208 were five years of age or less. The LNGC orderbook at the end of 2018 stood at 138 units, equivalent to 25% of the existing fleet in capacity terms. A total of 57 vessels were delivered in 2018 while 77 newbuildings were contracted during the year, both records. Some 46 LNGCs are scheduled for completion in 2019. At the end of 2018 there were 10 floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) on order while the in-service FSRU fleet stood at 33 units, five of which entered service during the year. Three vessels in the FSRU orderbook are due for 2019 completions. Volume LPG Drewry reports that global seaborne trade in LPG is expected to grow by 6.4 per cent this year, rising from 96.4 mt in 2018 and passing the 100 mt threshold for the first time to reach 102.6 mt. Over 80 per cent of the vessels in the fleet is nine years. specifying newbuildings has been on this volume is carried by fully refrigerated While 25 VLGCs were delivered in 2017, larger ships to enable all those along very large gas carriers (VLGCs) of 75,000 only 10 were completed last year. Five the supply chain to derive economy of m3 and above on deepsea routes. older VLGCs were scrapped in 2018. scale benefits. There are now 55 ethane/ US LPG exports, which rose by 12.3 VesselsValue has compiled LPG/chemical ethylene-capable ships of 15,000 m3 and per cent in 2018 to 31 mt, are expected to gas carrier fleet statistics for SIGTTO which above either in service or on order. A maintain their strong growth profile over are shown in the accompanying table. number of the newer vessels burn ethane the next two years. BW LPG predicts that in their engines, a much cleaner source the country’s net overseas shipments will LPG/chemical gas carrier fleet of power than traditional oil fuels. climb by 13.6 per cent to reach 35 mt in (As of April 2019; vessel numbers include Approximately 6 mt of ethylene is 2019 and then surge a further 17.4 per both ships in service and on order) moved internationally by sea each year, cent in 2020 to top 41 mt for the year. and overall volumes and individual The Middle astE as a whole exports a Gas carrier Number of cargo parcel sizes are on the increase. slightly higher volume of LPG than that of type vessels Navigator states that the average the US but the region’s output is relatively VLGCs 307 ethylene cargo size had increased to stable and shipments from the US will VLECs 14 6,500 tonnes in 2016, in contrast to begin to match the Middle East total as the Large gas carriers (LGCs) 22 the 5,700-tonne cargoes that had been country’s rich shale gas resources continue Mid-size gas carriers (MGCs) 122 commonplace over the previous 10 years. to be exploited. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Semi-ref ethylene 173 Annual movements by sea of ammonia, Abu Dhabi are the Middle East’s principal Semi-ref LPG 167 which is used primarily in fertiliser LPG exporters, with each of the three Fully pressurised ships 722 manufacture, stand at around the 18 producing around 10 mt for overseas sales. mt mark. The majority of cargoes are China imported 17.2 mt of LPG in 2018, Total 1,527 moved in fully refrigerated large gas a 5 per cent year-on-year rise, while Japan’s carriers (LGCs) of 60,000 m3 and mid- imports, at 10.6 mt, were 3 per cent down. Of the total fleet, 1,443 ship are size gas carriers (MGCs) of 22,500-35,000 Indian LPG imports showed the strongest in service and 84 on order m3, although semi-ref ships are utilised growth in 2018, jumping 12 per cent to for some shipments. The ammonia 8.3 mt. Other key LPG import regions and Source: VesselsValue trade and fleet are relatively stable. countries in 2018 were South East Asia, Fully pressurised ships are utilised as with 8.1 mt, and South Korea, with 6.8 mt. The semi-pressurised/fully refrigerated the final link in many seaborne LPG supply (semi-ref ) ethylene carrier fleet ranges in chains, to reach remote communities and The LPG/chemical gas fleet size from small ships of 1,500 m3 working those with limited supply requirements. BW LPG, the operator of a large VLGC fleet, in the Japanese coastal trades to the 37,500 The global fleet of 722 pressurised ships, reports that there were 269 VLGCs on the m3 ethane/ethylene-capable ships operated which again is a relatively stable fleet, is water worldwide as of 30 April 2019. On by Navigator Gas on deepsea routes. fairly evenly split between vessels of less that date there were 38 vessels on order, The latter, flexible ships are capable of than 3,000 m3 and those between 3,000 equivalent to 14 per cent of the existing carrying not only natural gas liquids (NGL) and 11,000 m3 in size. Ship-to-ship cargo fleet on a cargo-carrying capacity basis. feedstocks such as ethane, propane and transfers from larger fully refrigerated Most VLGC owners are currently butane but also the added-value monomers LPG carriers equipped with reheaters specifying newbuildings in the 82-84,000 of ethylene, propylene and butadiene. are an important feature of the working m3 size range, and the average age of The emphasis in recent years when life of many fully pressurised ships.

14 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication C

CMY

K Nice place to start – LNG carrier owners got together at the Princess Hotel in Bermuda for their first exploratory talks on the possibility of an industry association

A trip down memory lane Andrew Clifton*, which became flammable when vaporised, carry greater authority if it encompassed not posed hazards that would benefit from only the full range of liquefied gas carrier SIGTTO’s a harmonised, industry-wide approach cargoes but also the operation of terminals current General in the drive for risk minimisation. loading and receiving these cargoes. Stemming from their correspondence, Recognition of the need for a full Manager, looks the operators convened a series of spectrum of liquefied gas industry back over the 40-year meetings, held between December 1978 participants within the membership and March 1979, to discuss the need for appreciated the fact that the safety and history of the Society such an association in more detail and reliability issues confronting the gas what the remit of this body might be. ship community were broadly similar, lthough the first commercial The first of the meetings took place at the irrespective of the cargo carried. It also cargo of LNG was delivered Princess Hotel in Hamilton, Bermuda on acknowledged that cargo-handling in October 1964, growth in 11-12 December 1978. While El Paso LNG operations at the ship/terminal interface A this new maritime sector Company was the prime organiser of the represented the highest-risk activity in the over the first decade was slow and patchy. inaugural meeting, El Paso had taken note overall supply chain, and that there would be Not surprisingly, there was no industry of the support given to the idea of a new great value in providing a channel of direct body dedicated specifically to liquefied gas industry association by a range of ship liaison between ship and terminal operators transport, storage and handling during operators, including Compagnie Nationale in matters of mutual safety and reliability. these formative years. By the mid-1970s, Algerienne de Navigation (CNAN) of Algeria. After agreeing that the new industry however, it was becoming apparent that the The participants at the inaugural body should embrace all liquefied gas seaborne trade in LNG was about to take meeting reconfirmed that the establishment cargoes carried by sea and terminal as root and expand in Asia, Europe and the US. of an industry body was an eminently well as ship operations, the Society of sensible idea. The initial intention was International Gas Tanker and Terminal Exploratory talks to call the new association SIMTO, short Operators (SIGTTO) was chosen as the most Beginning in 1977 and 1978 a number for the Society for International Methane appropriate name for the new association. of operators of the industry’s pioneering Tanker Operators. This reflected the fact In these formative discussions LNG vessels entered into a mutual that the early prime movers behind the for SIGTTO, the participants had the correspondence. They soon decided initiative were LNG carrier operators. very ready help of senior executives that the establishment of some form of However, attendance at the 1978/79 from the International Chamber of industry association, in which LNG carrier meetings included representation from Shipping (ICS) and the Oil Companies operators worldwide could come together across the broad field of liquefied gas International Marine Forum (OCIMF). to discuss safety and reliability issues transportation, including operators of LPG These two established maritime industry of mutual concern, warranted serious and chemical gas carriers. It was quickly associations already covered seaborne consideration. The carriage and handling recognised that any new industry body liquefied gas cargo issues amongst their of large quantities of cryogenic liquid, would be that much more valuable and wide-ranging activities, and both enjoyed

16 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication consultative status at IMCO (now IMO). me and I became SIGTTO's first Technical membership and the liquefied gas sector A key question raised at the time was Adviser in July 1980. The subsequent office in in general as a result of the consideration whether the perceived aims and activities of Staple Hall was much better appointed than of topical issues by SIGTTO’s GPC and the proposed SIGTTO organisation could not the Marble Arch premises and my job was the working groups it established. be more appropriately achieved by ICS and made much easier by the excellent members.“ OCIMF, either singly or in combination. It General Manager roll call was ultimately concluded by all the parties The first technical issues the Society Robin Gray became SIGTTO’s second General involved that an association exclusively dealt with were as follows: Manager in May 1985, by which time the focused on the marine transport of liquefied • Contingency planning Society had over 60 members. Robin was gases offered the best solution. The optimum • Ship/shor e linked emergency shutdown followed in the role by Bruce Keer in June way of achieving the desired objectives • Safe havens 1991 and in April 1993 SIGTTO moved would be through the creation of a single • Cargo strainers from Staple Hall to a new office location in umbrella organisation as a comprehensive • Training St Helen's Place, also in the City of London. forum for discussions amongst liquefied The day after SIGTTO held its St Helen's gas ship and terminal operators. It is interesting to note that today SIGTTO’s Place welcome reception IRA terrorists General Purposes Committee (GPC) is still detonated a large bomb in the adjoining SIGTTO takes wing discussing most of the above generic issues street of Bishopsgate. Fortunately, the The end result of these formative liquefied to one degree or another! Technology and blast occurred on a Saturday morning gas meetings and inter-association the nature and spread of the industry and no one from the Secretariat was in deliberations was the establishment of the evolve continuously and earlier editions the office at the time. Nevertheless, the Society of International Gas Tanker and of best practice guidelines need to be damage caused to the immediate area, Terminal Operators Ltd as a Bermuda revised and updated, as required. including our premises, was substantial exempted, limited liability company. Within one year of the establishment and access to the SIGTTO office was not Membership and a shareholding in of SIGTTO the membership had grown to permitted for several weeks afterwards. SIGTTO Ltd was open to those companies 30 companies, including several terminal In 1994 SIGTTO membership passed owning or operating a liquefied gas carrier operators. One of the immediate priorities the 100 mark and in July 1995 Bruce Keer or a liquefied gas marine terminal. for the Society was achieving consultative was succeeded as General Manager by Alain status at IMO. This goal was achieved in Vaudolon. Alain, in turn, was followed by The first SIGTTO Board meeting was 1982 when the membership had grown John Gyles in July 1998. During the year the held in Bermuda on 5 October 1979 and to 50 different organisations. By this time number of LNG ships in service reached 100. the Society’s founder members were: the Society had an active GPC and a well- By the time James MacHardy was • El Paso LNG Company established programme of Panel Meetings appointed General Manager in February • Energy Transportation Corporation for the membership and invited guests. 2003, the liquefied gas industry was • Malaysian International Shipping Corp Over the following years the membership entering a phase of rapid expansion. • BP Tanker Company Ltd expanded steadily and SIGTTO came to Many new liquefied gas carrier operators • Moore, McCormack Bulk Transport Ltd be acknowledged as the authoritative were entering the market and, at the • P&O Bulk Shipping Ltd voice of the liquefied gas shipping and same time, new projects, terminals and • Gotaas-Larsen Inc terminal industry. Its respected standing ships were being commissioned. • Marine Transport Lines in the maritime community rested on the Appointed as the seventh General • Shell Tankers Ltd reputation that the Society quickly achieved Manager in May 2007, Bill Wayne led • Exxon for impartiality and integrity in addressing the Society at a time of continued great operational and safety issues. A number change in the seaborne transport of A further Board meeting, with more of industry best practice publications liquefied gases. Floating liquefaction members present, was held in Houston were produced and released for use by the vessels and regasification units were > on 12 November 1979. At that gathering Maurice Holdsworth was appointed as the first General Manager of the Society and Barry Hunsaker of El Paso Natural Gas the founding President. At this time there were 52 LNG vessels in service worldwide.

SIGTTO’s first Technical Adviser was Dick Oldham. He joined in July 1980 and he recalls his appointment well: “Maurice Holdsworth and the 10 founder members had set up a Secretariat office near Marble Arch in London’s West End. Having been a newbuilding superintendent - I built some of Shell’s 75,000 m3 G-class LNG carriers for Brunei and the two 59,000 Gotaas-Larsen, a SIGTTO m3 I-class LPG carriers - and being used to founder member, ordered being pretty autonomous, the attraction of some of the first spherical tank an unknown and embryonic SIGTTO was LNG carriers to be built pretty small. However, Maurice persuaded

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 17 Safety Committee (MSC 92) in June 2013 and at MSC 93 in May 2014 it was adopted. The revised IGC Code entered into force in January 2016 and became fully mandatory in July 2016. My own tenure I became SIGTTO’s eighth General Manager In November 2012, taking over the reins This 2004 photo shows a quartet of past SIGTTO General Managers: from from Bill Wayne. In doing so, I became the left to right, James MacHardy, Bruce Keer, Robin Gray and John Gyles first General Manager who had previously been a Technical Adviser for the Society. At this point the range of people handling LNG in a marine environment SIGTTO GENERAL MANAGERS was being extended due to the growing popularity of the use of LNG as a marine (By tenure and their companies prior to joining SIGTTO) fuel for ships other than gas carriers. Oct 1979 - May 1985 Maurice P Holdsworth (Shell) In 2013 SIGTTO formed the Society for May 1985 - Jun 1991 Robin C Gray (British Shipbuilders) Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) to oversee Jun 1991 - Jul 1995 Bruce E Keer (BP) the expanding LNG bunkering sector. Jul 1995 – Jul 1998 Alain P Vaudolon (Petronas Tankers) SGMF has since become independent Jul 1998 - Feb 2003 John L Gyles (Shell) and a non-governmental > Feb 2003 - May 2007 James MacHardy (BP) May 2007 - Nov 2012 William S Wayne (Shell) Nov 2012 - present Andrew M Clifton (BP) Andrew Clifton SIGTTO TECHNICAL ADVISERS *Andrew Clifton is the General (By date of joining and company from which seconded) Manager and Chief Operating Officer Jul 1980 Dick Oldham of the Society of International Gas 1983 Robin Buncombe (Shell) Tanker & Terminal Operators Ltd Sep 1986 Roy D Izatt (Shell) (SIGTTO) and has over 30 years’ Sep 1988 Doug A Brown (BP) experience in the liquefied gas Sep 1991 Richard H Chadburn (Shell) shipping industry. His gas career Jul 1993 Ken Sprowles (Shell) encompasses 19 years at sea, three of Jun 1994 John Cummings (Shell) which as master, mainly on liquefied Jan 1997 Roger Roue (directly employed by SIGTTO) gas carriers; a first class honours Dec 1997 Marc Hopkins (BP) degree in shipping operations; Dec 2000 Gary Dockerty (Shell) and 12 years of shore managerial Apr 2002 Chris Snape (Shell) experience prior to his appointment Apr 2003 Andrew Clifton (Golar) as SIGTTO General Manager. Dec 2005 Paul Steele (BP) Andrew’s time ashore Dec 2007 Andy Murray (Chevron) comprises three years at the UK’s Sep 2008 Teo Popa (Golar) Marine Accident Investigation Dec 2010 Craig Jackson (Teekay) Branch (MAIB); time as a marine Jan 2011 Cherian Oommen (Maersk) superintendent with Golar LNG; Nov 2012 Rick Boudiette (Chevron) almost two years in the SIGTTO Jul 2014 Thierry Descamps (ConocoPhillips) Secretariat as a Technical Adviser; Oct 2015 Robert Steele (ExxonMobil) and over five years in Indonesia Jan 2018 Rob Farmer (directly employed by SIGTTO) with BP as LNG shipping manager May 2019 Uluc Kaypok (Shell) for the Tangguh LNG project. Andrew was also the SIGTTO Panel Meeting Chairman from October 2008 until becoming General > being introduced; ship and fleet size were SIGTTO formed nine working groups to Manager in November 2012. increasing dramatically, as were the output carry out this revision work and the overall Andrew Clifton is the eighth capacities of shoreside liquefaction units; effort was coordinated by a steering group. SIGTTO General Manager, and and innovative technologies, including new Nearly 140 experts, representing over 40 the youngest at the time of his propulsion system types, were transitioning entities and 20 countries, worked on the IGC appointment. He is also the from the drawing board to ships under Code revision project over the course of the first General Manager who was construction in the building dock. next two years, and SIGTTO ensured that a formerly a Technical Adviser at It was during Bill Wayne’s tenure that draft of the revised Code was delivered to the Society. On top of his SIGTTO SIGTTO facilitated the revision of the IMO for consideration by that organisation commitments, Andrew is technical International Code for the Construction and (see page 78 for more details of this project). co-chair of the Gastech conference. Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases The revised IGC Code was approved in Bulk (IGC Code) on behalf of IMO. In 2008 at the 92nd Session of IMO’s Maritime

18 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication GTT congratulates SIGTTO on their first 40 years © Roland Mouron

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In a world of fluctuating fuel costs and stringent emissions targets, we provide operational simplicity. X-DF engines offer new marine propulsion standards with low-pressure gas technology. A partnership with WinGD ensures efficiency and sustainability with excellence built in. wingd.com > organisation (NGO) in its own right. In 2016 SIGTTO published its first Four SIGTTO ever Strategic Plan in response to ongoing industry developments and the need to be ahead of the curve on behalf of the membership. The aim of the Strategic Plan, decades in a nutshell which was further updated in 2018, is to ensure that the Society remains relevant and fit for purpose to meet the needs and expectations of the membership in the 21st 1970 1986 century. The Plan outlines a future vision of OCIMF, an oil company tanker SIGTTO published the 160-page 1st Edition where activities should be directed through association with some limited of Liquefied Gas Handling Principles 2025 and explains the role of SIGTTO as involvement in the liquefied gas society moves towards a net emissions- shipping sector, held its first meeting 1987 free world over the decades ahead. SIGTTO published Recommendations and The first-ever meeting of SIGTTO’s 1971 Guidelines for Linked Ship/Shore Emergency new Human Element Committee (HEC) GIIGNL, an LNG importers Shut-Down of Liquefied Gas Cargo Transfer was held in 2016. The GPC, HEC and the association, was established Secretariat provide the vehicle through 1991 which the knowledge and information 1977 Bruce Keer became the third gathering within the organisation can best A group of pioneering LNG carrier SIGTTO General Manager be promulgated to the full membership operators began to explore, through and the regulatory bodies that influence correspondence, the need for a 1993 the industry. SIGTTO has now published dedicated LNG shipping association SIGTTO moved to new offices in the City of over 50 books, recommendations and London, at 17 St Helen’s Place; no sooner guidelines. This works out at an average 1978 than the move was completed when the of two new or updated publications The LNG carrier operators met in nearby explosion of a terrorist bomb caused per year over the life of SIGTTO. Bermuda for the first of a series considerable damage and necessitated SIGTTO is as strong now as it has ever of meetings to further discuss the temporary accommodation for almost a year been; the membership includes around proposed trade organisation; it was 97 per cent of the world’s LNG vessels decided to proceed with its creation 1994 and terminals and approximately 50 per SIGTTO membership passed the 100 mark cent of the LPG market. SIGTTO now 1979 has more members than ever before The first SIGTTO board meeting was held 1995 and remains the industry leader for in Bermuda, with 10 founder members Alain Vaudolon succeeded Bruce best practice and technical support for and membership open to operators of all Keer as General Manager liquefied gas shipping and terminals. types of liquefied gas ships and terminals; In 55 years of commercial operations, Maurice Holdsworth was appointed 1997 LNG carriers have delivered over 100,000 the Society’s first General Manager The global fleet of LNG carriers cargoes. During this period there have been in service reached 100 vessels no loss of cargo tank containment and 1980 no onboard fatalities directly attributable Membership of the Society had jumped SIGTTO and IACS jointly issued to the cargo. This is a very impressive, to 30 companies by the end of the first Application of Amendments to in fact, unprecedented, safety record for year and had reached 50 by 1982 Gas Carrier Codes Concerning the carriage of liquid hydrocarbons at Type C Tank Loading Limits sea in bulk. SIGTTO has played a key 1982 part in achieving this safety record. The General Purposes Committee (GPC) 1998 As a final point, the philosophy of the was established as SIGTTO’s principal John Gyles was appointed SIGTTO’s Society is best described in the words of technical body, and the first of what fifth General Manager its founding President, Barry Hunsaker of was to become a long-running series El Paso Natural Gas some 40 years ago: of SIGTTO Panel Meetings was held SIGTTO issued its first newsletter; the publication, featuring typed sheets “We will best achieve our goals by sharing 1983 and inset photos, was upgraded to a with each other our non-proprietary SIGTTO was granted 12-page, full-colour, biannual, typeset technical and safety information and consultative status at IMO periodical with Issue No 7 in 2002 operating experiences through open and frank discussion. Only in this way will 1984 2000 each of us benefit from the experience and SIGTTO published Hydrates in LPG SIGTTO’s LNG LOG No 26, a statistical knowledge gained by all of us and thus Cargoes – A Technological Review record of all LNG carrier voyages through maximise the safety of our operations. December 2000, was the last in the Remember, the industry will be judged by 1985 series; the matrix of ship voyages and the record of its least safe operator. Let’s Robin Gray succeeded Maurice loading and discharge terminals had help ourselves by helping that operator”. Holdsworth as General Manager become too unwieldy to maintain

20 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication 2001 2008 ships carrying LNG in cryogenic ISO Annual movements of LNG totaled A global industry-led initiative tank containers to join SIGTTO 104 million tonnes (mt), exceeding to carry out a major revision of the 100 mt mark for the first time IMO’s International Gas Carrier A Liquefied Gas Senior Executive (IGC) Code was launched, with Forum, the first in a new series of 2002 SIGTTO corordinating the effort annual US conferences involving SIGTTO organised its first SIGTTO, SGMF and the US Coast Regional Forum, an event for its The Society’s LPG Shipping Suggested Guard, was held in Houston Scandinavian members in Oslo Competency Standards was published 2016 2003 SIGTTO’s publishing capabilities were The revised IGC Code entered into James MacHardy succeeded John strengthened when Witherbys merged force on 1 January and became Gyles as General Manager with Seamanship International mandatory for all new ships with their keel laid on or after 1 July SIGTTO issued Reminiscences of the The global fleet of LNG carriers Pioneering Days of LNG Transport as in service reached 300 vessels Following a major update, the 530- a special Supplement publication page 4th Edition of Liquefied Gas 2011 Handling Principles was published SIGTTO published two core documents: The SIGTTO LNG/LPG Officer Experience A Guide to the Safety of LNG Operations in Matrix and LNG Ship to Ship Transfer SIGTTO’s new Human Element Port Areas and Crew Safety and Training Guidelines publications were issued Committee held its first meeting Standards for Large Gas Carriers The SIGTTO Board agreed that providers The Board approved the Strategic 2004 of specialist escort and harbour Plan 2016, which outlines a 2020 Following on from its 2003 publishing tug services at LNG terminals are vision of where the Society aims activity, SIGTTO issued a third entitled to associate membership to be at the end of the decade core document, i.e. Liquefied Gas Fire Hazard Management 2012 2017 Andrew Clifton became the first The International Code for Ships using SIGTTO celebrated its Silver Jubilee SIGTTO General Manager to have Gas or other Low Flash-Point Fuels (IGF with an evening reception at the IMO previously served as a Technical Code) entered into force on 1 January headquarters building in London Adviser at the Society The global fleet of in-service LNG SIGTTO extended its Associate Member 2013 carriers reached 500 vessels terms to enable class societies and port SIGTTO was instrumental in establishing authorities playing host to liquefied the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel The Floating LNG Installations gas terminals to join the Society (SGMF) as a new non-governmental Sub-committee was established organisation (NGO) to oversee the use as a subsidiary body of the SIGTTO issued Bulk Liquefied of LNG to power all types of ship Society’s GPC, initially with three Gas by Sea: The Early Years as a of its own working groups special Supplement publication The layout and design of the biannual SIGTTO newsletter was revamped, 2018 2005 with the ‘SIGTTO blue’ replacing the SIGTTO moved offices a short The Society welcomed its first old red headings and banners distance across the City of London, Russian and Chinese members 2014 to 42 New Broad St, after 25 2006 SIGTTO published Guidance for LNG years at 17 St Helen’s Place IMO adopted SIGTTO’s recently carriers transiting the Panama Canal published Competency Standards The SIGTTO Panel Meeting held in th for Officers on LNG Vessels The SIGTTO membership London in April was the 64 in the series passed the 200 mark The SIGTTO/GIIGNL online database General Manager Andrew Clifton of combined ship and terminal The global fleet of LNG carriers was appointed co-chair of the information was put into service and in service reached 400 vessels Gastech Technical Committee made available to the membership 2015 2019 SIGTTO held its first Panel and GPC SIGTTO published Support Craft at SIGTTO celebrated its 40th anniversary, meetings in India, in Mumbai in April Liquefied Gas Facilities – Principles of not least with this special publication Emergency Response and Protection and a celebratory reception to be held in The 200th in-service LNG London, scheduled for 10 September carrier was commissioned The associate membership criteria was amended to permit providers The Board approved Recommendations 2007 of liquefied gas training as well as for Management of Cargo Alarm Bill Wayne was appointed SIGTTO’s operators of compressed natural Systems, a new Human Element seventh General Manager gas (CNG) carriers and container Committee document

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 21 A selection of photos from the Society’s past

1 2

5 4

1. Roger Ffooks (left) and Mike Corkhill (the editor of this publication) on the occasion of SIGTTO’s 25th anniversary 2. From left to right, Andrew Clifton (in his younger Technical Adviser days), Roger Roue and James MacHardy on the steps of the St Helen’s Place office3. A ‘technical visit’ to Napa Valley’s wine tanks is an essential part of SIGTTO gatherings in the San Francisco area 4. The SIGTTO/Witherbys stand at Gastech is an important meeting place 5. There’s a storm in every port!

22 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Publications

energy and environmental efficiencies, vessel capacities, equipment technology, industry best practices and legislation. The primary target audience of LGHP4 is comprised of serving ships' officers and terminal staff who are responsible for cargo handling operations. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of understanding the physical properties of liquefied gas cargoes in relation to the operation of gas- handling equipment and systems on the ship and at loading and discharge jetties. Revised IGC Code Another major revision of a key liquefied gas document made its appearance on the world stage in 2016 and, once again, The most intense activity experienced SIGTTO played a key role in its update. along the liquefied gas supply chain Roger Roue provides a full account of the is at the ship/shore interface project to revise IMO’s International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code on page 78. The updated Code is mandatory for new gas carriers whose keels were laid on or after 1 July 2016. Although the Code had been the A living, breathing subject of several amendments since its initial adoption by IMO in 1983, they were piecemeal in nature and by industry best 2007 SIGTTO realised that a major overhaul of the document was called for, in much the same way that there practice library had been a need for the LGHP4 update. That year the UK government made a submission to IMO seeking support for Continually refreshed, SIGTTO’s portfolio of a project to revise the IGC Code and publications provides an unparalleled source of sound proposing that SIGTTO lead the redrafting work, with assistance and input from advice on safe gas ship and terminal operations shipping and terminal industry experts. The proposal was agreed to by IMO’s or SIGTTO the proactive LGHP as it is affectionately known, was Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at development of industry best revised twice in the ensuing 14 years, its 83rd Session in October 2007. practices and guidelines is one the third edition, LGHP3, appearing in Roger Roue details the extensive F of the five central pillars in its 2000. Over that period the book had work involved in his article but, suffice drive to promote safe, environmentally become an acknowledged text for courses to say, it was a notable undertaking, not responsible and reliable gas shipping leading to the award of Dangerous Cargo least for him, then a SIGTTO Technical and terminal operations. Work on this Endorsements (DCEs) for seagoing Adviser. In fact, coordinating all the work portfolio of guidance began with the certificates of competency. The publication’s entailed in the IGC Code revision project establishment of the Society 40 years ago contents are also recommended by IMO became a fulltime job for Roger for over and the library has constantly been updated in its Standards of Training, Certification two years and SIGTTO needed to take on and augmented, as required, ever since. and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention. another Technical Adviser to handle all By 2010 SIGTTO realised that LGHP the other day-to-day work of the Society. Liquefied Gas would need to be updated once again, to a Handling Principles considerable degree, to take into account the Training to the fore One of the first publication projects to be many technological advances that had been SIGTTO’s portfolio of industry best practice embarked upon by SIGTTO was also one made in the liquefied gas sector since the guidelines are clustered around themes of its most ambitious. The first edition start of the new millennium. The wheels of central to safe operations, including of Liquefied Gas Handling Principles, a major revision were set in motion and the training, the ship/shore interface, the Society’s flagship publication, was end result, LGHP4, was issued in July 2016. operations in ports, floating LNG vessels published in 1986 and quickly became The new 530-page edition incorporates and, more generically, hazard management. not only an indispensable companion extensive updates and a wide range Training is a topic that has been the for all those training for operational of new material. Topics impacted by focus of a great deal of attention in the qualifications but also a readily accessible the changes include vessel design, maritime industry, reflecting the extent reference work for those already propulsion systems, size of fleet, floating to which the human element is a factor engaged in liquefied gas operations. regasification and reliquefaction, Arctic in so many accidents, mishaps and near- Liquefied Gas Handling Principles, or LNG, containment systems, improved vessel misses. The relatively complex nature >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 23 Publications

core documents to raise awareness Working in the escort mode, amongst all the parties responsible for tugs are able to exert steering safe port operations of the special risks and braking forces on the ship posed by the world’s rapidly growing in the event of an emergency LNGC fleet. There are many port hazards, such as ship collisions, which cannot be managed by the gas sector alone, and the core document highlights the measures available to third parties to manage the risks associated with LNG vessels. One safeguard employed by operators of LNG and other liquefied gas terminals is the use of berthing tugs with vessel escort, firefighting and rescue capabilities. Operating in the escort mode, such tugs are able to rapidly exert braking and steering forces on gas carriers in port approaches in the event of an emergency. However, active escorts of tankers proceeding at a reasonable speed in port waters are complex operations. > of gas ship operations and the hazards semi-pressurised and fully refrigerated For them to be carried out safely and posed by escaping cargo ensure that LPG ships and ethylene carriers as well as effectively, tug and tanker crews and pilots the focus on training in the liquefied operations such as cargo grade changing. need to work as a team, each aware of the gas sector is particularly acute. Because the interest in new LNG constraints faced by the two other parties. While the DCE qualification laid carrier propulsion systems did not begin More recently, in 2015 and 2016, down in the STCW Convention specifies in earnest until the early years of the new respectively, SIGTTO published Support the minimum requirement for gas millennium, a large number of the long- Craft at Liquefied Gas Facilities: Principles ship crews, SIGTTO’s membership serving ships in the LNGC fleet are still of Emergency Response and Protection - realised that the training regime for its powered by steam turbines. To fill the gap Onshore and Support Craft at Liquefied operators needed to extend further. in the new competency standards regime, Gas Facilities: Principles of Emergency A first step asw taken with the publication SIGTTO issued LNG Steamship Suggested Response and Protection – Offshore. The of Crew Safety Standards and Training for Competency Standards for Engineers in 2010. former covers vessel traffic at shore- Large LNG Carriers: Essential Best Practices The Society’s competency standard based terminals while the latter deals for the Industry in 2003. Drawing on the publications are complemented by SIGTTO with operations at gas terminals, safety management systems of experienced LNG and LPG Experience Matrix Guidelines including floating facilities, positioned LNGC operators, the SIGTTO document was for Use, issued as an information paper at nearshore and offshore locations. prepared to provide guidance for use by not in 2016. The original SIGTTO LNG/LPG Each gas terminal, as part of its only shipowners but also flag and port state Officer Experience Matrix was published emergency response plan, has traditionally authorities and class societies in auditing in 2011 in the hope it might be adopted specified the performance standards for compliance with the International as the industry standard from which to that the specialist assist vessels it utilises Safety Management (ISM) Code. assess the adequacy of experience and must comply with. The two Support Craft The next training document from training for officers serving on board documents have been prepared because SIGTTO was LNG Shipping Suggested LNG and LPG carriers. In the event some the variable nature of these requirements Competency Standards, produced in 2005, terminals and charterers began applying has increased over the years as the global followed by a second edition in 2008. the Matrix prescriptively, believing network of gas terminals has spread. The Acknowledging the competence-based that any shortfalls below the specified publications lay down industry-wide methodology laid down in the STCW levels of experience, however best practice guidelines for actions to be Convention, the SIGTTO competency small, to be unacceptable. taken by gas terminal support vessels standards for the various officer ranks on The 2016 Matrix document provides to prevent and mitigate accidents. board LNG carriers were adopted by IMO further guidance as to the recommended for inclusion in the STCW instrument. application of the Matrix in the assessment Ship/shore interface While it is up to individual training and management of risk. It points out Activity along the liquefied gas supply establishments as regards how they that consideration should be given to chain is at its most intense when the ship fashion their courses around the SIGTTO other mitigating factors used in officer is moored at the terminal jetty either standards, industry acceptance of their recruitment and development, including loading or discharging cargo. Recent offering will benefit from accredited bespoke training; the manning scale interface-related SIGTTO publications recognition of the course content. The in place; duration of employment include LNG Emergency Release Systems Society prepared The Verification of with the LNG/ LPG shipowner/ - Recommendations, Guidelines and Best the SIGTTO Training Standards as a operator; and the ship operator’s wider Practices, published in 2017, and two document to assist with this compliance. competence management systems. that appeared in 2018, i.e. Ship/Shore SIGTTO augmented its LNG publication Interface for LPG/Chemical Gas Carriers with LPG Shipping Suggested Competency Safe port operations and Terminals and Guidelines for the Standards in 2008. The LPG standards Published in 2003, LNG Operations in Port Alleviation of Excessive Surge Pressures on recognise the need to cover fully pressurised, Areas was produced as one of SIGTTO’s ESD for Liquefied Gas Transfer Systems.

24 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Publications SIGTTO paid publications

SIGTTO Information Papers, LNG Steamship Suggested Consolidated Ed 2019 (2019; £175.00) Competency Standards for Engineers (2010; £125.00) Recommendations for Liquefied Gas Carrier Manifolds (2018; £175.00) LPG Shipping Suggested Competency Standards Ship/Shore Interface for LPG/ (2008; £125.00) Chemical Gas Carriers and Terminals (2018; £175.00) LNG Shipping Suggested Competency Standards, Guidelines for the Alleviation 2nd Ed (2008; £125.00) of Excessive Surge Pressures on ESD for Liquefied Gas Transfer Jetty Maintenance and Inspection Systems (2018; £175.00) Guide (2008; £175.00)

LNG Emergency Release Systems Hydrates in LPG Cargoes - Recommendations, Guidelines (2008; £75.00) and Best Practices (2017; £125.00) Liquefied Gas Fire Hazard Liquefied Gas Handling Principles Management (2004; £175.00) on Ships and in Terminals, 4th Ed (LGHP4) (2016; £275.00) Crew Safety Standards and Training for Large LNG Carriers: Support Craft at Liquefied Gas Esssential Best Practices for Facilities: Principles of Emergency the Industry (2003; £75.00) Response and Protection - Offshore(2016; £125.00) LNG Operations in Port Areas (2003; £75.00) Support Craft at Liquefied Gas Facilities: Principles of Emergency Guide to Contingency Planning Response and Protection - for Marine Terminals Handling Onshore (2015; £125.00)

LNG Emergency Release Systems Liquefied Gases in Bulk, 2nd Ed (2001; £40.00) Guidance for LNG Carriers Transiting the Panama Guidelines on the Ship-Board Canal (2014; £125.00) Odourisation of LPG (2000; £40.00)

Ship-to-Ship Transfer Guide An Introduction to the Design www.sigtto.org Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators Ltd for Petroleum, Chemicals and and Maintenance of Cargo System First Edition Liquefied Gases (2013; £275.00) Pressure Relief Valves Onboard Gas LNG Emergency Release Systems Carriers, 2nd Ed (1998; £40.00) Recommendations, Guidelines and Best Practices Liquefied Gas Carriers: Your First Edition Personal Safety Guide (2012; £25.00) Site Selection & Design for LNG Ports & Jetties (Information Application of Amendments to Gas Paper No 14) (1997; £40.00) Carrier Codes Concerning Type C Tank Loading Limits (2012; £25.00) Details of more than 60 free SIGTTO publications, newsletters, annual Liquefied Petroleum Gas Sampling reports and articles are given on the Procedures (2010; £25.00) Society’s website: www.sigtto.org

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 25 SUPPLYING ENERGY GLOBALLY LAKE CHARLES LNG The Lake Charles LNG project brings together two leading energy companies to develop a world-class LNG export facility in Lake Charles, LA, for export to global customers. The project is a 50/50 venture between Energy Transfer, one of the largest pipeline operators in the U.S. and Shell, a worldwide leader in gas and LNG.

The project, if sanctioned through an affirmative FID, would convert Energy Transfer’s existing Lake Charles LNG import and regasification terminal to an LNG export facility with a liquefaction capacity of 16.45 million tonnes per annum. The project is fully permitted, uses existing infrastructure and benefits from abundant natural gas supply and proximity to major pipeline infrastructure, including Energy Transfer’s vast pipeline network. The proposed project will use a best available techniques concept to be a class leader in terms of environmental emissions, performance and efficiency.

lakecharleslng.com Panel Meetings & Regional Forums

visits involve trips to gas import or export A great part of the proceedings at terminals but there has been a good degree the 60th Panel Meeting in Livorno of variation over the years. The roster of celebrated the 50th anniversary technical visit hosts includes shipyards, of commercial LNG shipping repair yards, gas-handling equipment and system engineers, training establishments and a California winery, where features of the sophisticated bulk liquid containment system were subject to close scrutiny! Lining up Panel Meeting speakers SUPPLYING and presentation topics has traditionally been the responsibility of incumbent ENERGY Technical Advisers. Many of the Technical Adviser commentaries in this issue are filled with amusing observations GLOBALLY on challenges, logistics and otherwise, posed by the organisation of certain Panels they were associated with. Panel notables LAKE CHARLES LNG A number of the Panels proved to be particularly notable for one reason or another, and have gone down in the The Lake Charles LNG project brings together two leading energy companies to develop a Society’s folklore. For example, the keynote world-class LNG export facility in Lake Charles, LA, for export to global customers. The project Flagships of the speakers at the 42nd Panel, which was held in Savannah, Georgia in April 2002, is a 50/50 venture between Energy Transfer, one of the largest pipeline operators in the U.S. were William duBarry Thomas and Alex and Shell, a worldwide leader in gas and LNG. open door policy Pastuhov, who regaled delegates with their first-hand experiences of the initial trial shipments of LNG 43 years earlier. Although both SIGTTO Panel Meetings and Regional The project, if sanctioned through an affirmative FID, would convert Energy Transfer’s SIGTTO collected their presentation Forums enhance two-way communications with and additional relevant material and existing Lake Charles LNG import and regasification terminal to an LNG export facility with a published it as a special Supplement the membership, each has a specific role to play liquefaction capacity of 16.45 million tonnes per annum. The project is fully permitted, uses publication, Reminiscences of the Pioneering Days of LNG Transport, in 2003. existing infrastructure and benefits from abundant natural gas supply and proximity to major IGTTO’s busy schedule of Panel Panel main events The 97 delegates present for the Meetings and Regional Forums Whereas Regional Forums were only Savannah meeting was a record for a Panel pipeline infrastructure, including Energy Transfer’s vast pipeline network. The proposed enables the Society to maintain introduced in 2002, Panel Meetings were at the time but it did not stand for long. project will use a best available techniques concept to be a class leader in terms S a regular and ongoing dialogue instituted virtually from the birth of the Eighteen months later, at the 45th Panel in with its full membership. On the one hand, Society. There have been 64 SIGTTO Panel Hamburg in September 2003, the attendance of environmental emissions, performance and efficiency. the events provide opportunities for the Meetings to date, the latest one being reached 141, while 200 were present for Secretariat and members participating in held in London in April 2018. They are the 51st Panel in Paris in September 2007. current project working groups to highlight usually hosted by a member company At around this time SIGTTO introduced the key issues concerning the industry to local to the event’s venue. Smit Lamnalco, some half-day open forum sessions at the wider membership. And, on the other, a SIGTTO Associate Member with an its Panel Meetings at which new topical the get-togethers enable each Society international presence, played host to issues of growing concern to the liquefied member to contribute to the discussions those attending the 64th Panel in London. gas industry in general could be debated and raise new matters to consider. As mentioned, two Panel Meetings per through wide-ranging question and Panel Meetings are the main annum were the norm in the early days answer dialogues. Ship vetting and the SIGTTO events, attracting global of SIGTTO. However, in recent years the role of ship inspectors were discussed at audiences of member companies and Society has become increasingly involved the 46th Panel Meeting in San Francisco guest speakers for a busy two days of in organising and chairing the shipping in April 2004 while the nascent evolution presentations and discussions. Usually sessions of regular global events such as the in LNG carrier propulsion systems came of a single day’s duration, Regional Gastech and LNG series of meetings. Rather under scrutiny at the 47th Panel Meeting Forums extend the outreach, being than deflect from the potential attendances in Kertih, Malaysia in April 2005. aimed at the Society’s members within at these shipping sessions, SIGTTO has One of the most interesting presentations particular geographical areas. eased back on the busy schedule of at the 50th Panel Meeting in Vancouver Until recently, SIGTTO organised two Panel Meetings and put more emphasis in September 2006 was that by Warwick Panel Meetings per annum, one in the on Regional Forums in recent years. Pointon, North Asia manager for NWSSS spring and one in the autumn, while Panel Meetings are usually augmented Company Pty Ltd, the company responsible the Regional Forum programme has by technical visits, tacked on as a third for the transport of cargoes from Australia’s lakecharleslng.com gradually been built up to the extent day to provide interested parties with the North West Shelf project. Rather presciently, that there now around 10 or more such opportunity to visit a nearby industrial in view of the 2011 Fukushima earthquake events around the world each year. site of notable importance. Usually, the and tsunami, he looked at the topic of >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 27 Panel Meetings & Regional Forums

of a full Panel Meeting in the Greek capital the following year. This was the time when Greek shipowners were making their first foray into what turned out to be a major commitment to LNG carrier ownership and operation. The high degree of flexibility inherent in the Regional Forum approach provides scope for special one-off events to be organised to meet specific needs. Thus, in 2012 special Forums were held in Brisbane and Panama. Delegates to the Brisbane gathering were provided with an update on the three coal seam gas-based LNG export terminal projects being developed around the Gladstone port area, while SIGTTO General Manager Andrew Clifton addresses the Shanghai Regional Forum in those to the Panama meeting, which was December 2017 on the latest work of the Society’s committees and working groups hosted by the Panama Canal Authority (PCA), learned about the likely impact of the > tsunami contingency planning in Japan, members had traditionally met regularly then-imminent expanded capacity of the explaining the problems associated with at home, attended by SIGTTO Secretariat Panama Canal on global LNG trade routes. developing effective tsunami contingency staff whenever possible, for many years. plans, not least the often conflicting These Japanese member meetings, held Worldwide reach needs of terminals and ships and the virtually since SIGTTO was established, Meanwhile, SIGTTO’s Regional Forum reliability of tsunami warnings. reflected (a) Japan’s status as the world’s programme has gone from strength to With an LNGC fleet serving 15 different leading importer of LNG since the strength. The first South American Regional discharge terminals in Japan, NWSSS inception of the industry and (b) the fact Forum was held in 2014, in Montevideo, was faced with the challenge of assisting that 20-plus companies amongst the and in 2016 the Asian Regional Forum was the individual terminals in devising SIGTTO members are leading Japanese held in Tokyo, the arrangement effectively contingency plans most appropriate to their gas terminal and ship operators. replacing the former regular meetings of the prevailing conditions. It is reassuring to Every Scandinavian company that Society’s Japanese members. The first Indian note that the 2011 tsunami, as devastating was a SIGTTO member had at least one Regional Forum was also staged in 2016. as it was, put only one of Japan’s 25- representative present at the Oslo meeting A total of 99 delegates were present for plus LNG receiving terminals out of in 2002, and that strong sense of community a European Regional Forum in Edinburgh action, and that for only a short time. spirit has characterised Regional Forums in 2015 but that attendance record fell The firstver e Panel in India was ever since. All the participants agreed the following year when 110 turned up held in Mumbai in April 2006 while that the idea of an ongoing Scandinavian for the Society’s second South American China did not stage its inaugural Regional Forum was a good one, and Regional Forum, in Buenos Aires. Panel until April 2015 when SIGTTO that a follow-up meeting should be held SIGTTO staged 10 Regional Forums members gathered in Shenzhen. within the year. A number of issues were in 2018, in Oslo, Singapore, Athens, raised in Oslo, including ship vetting Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Perth, Shanghai, Quorum for a forum and mooring ropes, which went on to Dubai and two in Houston. Although they are a relatively new feature become agenda items for SIGTTO’s General There is another new series of meetings of SIGTTO’s outreach programme compared Purposes Committee and the subject that is now a regular feature of the SIGTTO to Panel Meetings, Regional Forums have of Society best practice guidelines. calendar and that is the Liquefied Gas rapidly gained favour and are now a key Within the next couple of years annual Senior Executive Forum. This event is held part of the Society’s annual agenda. Each Middle East, Pan American and Asia Pacific every December in Houston in conjunction year SIGTTO organises, on average, 10 Regional Forums had been established. with the US Coast Guard and the Society for Regional Forums in various key liquefied In the early days each Forum took on a Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF), and the first gas geographical zones worldwide and in distinctive characteristic, reflecting to in the series took place in 2015. The 200- many locations these Forums are effectively some degree the majority interests then plus attendances of these Senior Executive taking on one of the roles traditionally prevailing in a particular region. Thus, while Forums reflect the current high level of filled by Panel Meetings. While Panels were the focus at the Scandinavian Forums was interest in gas carrier and terminal activities evolving at the turn of the millennium more on LNG and LPG shipping issues, the in the US, due not least to record LPG into full industry seminars dealing with view of the liquefied gas industry from a exports, the start of worldscale LNG and global issues, the new Regional Forums corporate independent oil company (IOC) ethane export volumes and the introduction enabled SIGTTO to increase levels of perspective was the central theme of early of LNG- powered ships and LNG bunkering. contact with individual members as the Pan American Regional Forum meetings in The next SIGTTO meeting is an membership ranks were growing. Houston. At the first Middle East Forums extraordinary one. On 10 September The first meeting of SIGTTO’s much of the discussion was led by major 2019 the Society will hold a Liquefied Gas Scandinavian members, held in Oslo in LNG production and export interests. Shipping Forum followed by a reception May 2002, is acknowledged to be the first The first Mediterranean Regional in London to celebrate its 40th anniversary. formal SIGTTO Regional Forum. This, Forum was held in Athens in 2004, and The event will take place as part of the despite the fact that SIGTTO’s Japanese the event turned out to be a precursor London International Shipping Week 2019.

28 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Learn new moves from the THE EXPERTISE OF OUR GASBASSADORS SUPPORTS masters of gas YOUR TRANSITION TO GAS

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wartsila.com/lngandgas Committees and Subcommittees

The global FSRU fleet totaled 33 units at the end of 2018, while another 10 were on order

these international gatherings reflects the SIGTTO committees strong ties that the Society has with the event organisers. SIGTTO General Manager Andrew Clifton chaired the shipping session configured for the future at LNG 19 and will take on a similar role at Gastech 2019. In addition, he was recently In revamping its committee structure, the Society has appointed co-chair of the Gastech technical created more bodies to better channel the expertise committee and is assisting with vetting the large number of presentations proposed required for an increasingly diversified workload for each event in the Gastech series. Besides indicating the need for the new he General Purposes Committee and HEC. Following a GPC survey of Floating LNG Installations Subcommittee, (GPC), SIGTTO’s technical body, members conducted in summer 2017 on the summer 2017 GPC survey also has traditionally originated topics worthy of further consideration revealed other topical issues worthy T and coordinated all the internal by the Society, the first of these, the of consideration by new GPC working projects generated at SIGTTO. Completion Floating LNG installations Subcommittee, groups. Working groups on propulsion of the project work itself is carried out was formed as a GPC sub-group. systems, reliquefaction systems, gangways, by working groups comprising relevant GPC and HEC both meet twice a year, pressure relief valves and emergency experts from amongst the membership. in the spring and the autumn, and report shutdown (ESD) systems were duly The technical publications which are to the SIGTTO Board. Smooth interfacing constituted, and their work is progressing. the end-result of these projects are arrangements between the various The Propulsion and Reliquefaction effectively the best practice procedures, committees and subcommittees are an Working Groups have met face-to-face recommendations and standards that guide integral part of the restructuring exercise. and are working in a collaborative the industry’s day-to-day operations. For example, the HEC chair is also a GPC fashion on their respective documents. To deal with a growing and increasingly member and vice versa with the GPC chair. The publications will include technical diverse industry, the Society’s committee descriptions, with sections on risk, structure has been upgraded in accordance GPC latest operations and safety, and will provide with the current Strategic Plan 2016. SIGTTO’s most recent GPC meeting, its 79th, recommendations, guidelines and best Amongst the measures that have been was held in Shanghai in April 2019. The practices for all the propulsion and implemented is the establishment of a venue and timing were chosen to align with reliquefaction systems under consideration. Human Element Committee (HEC) which, the LNG 19 conference and exhibition. The The Gangways Working Group has like GPC, is composed of representatives next GPC meeting, GPC 80, will similarly prepared draft guidance for designers, from SIGTTO member companies. tie in with an international congress, in terminals, vessel owners and operators In addition, the Strategic Plan encourages this case the Gastech 2019 event, when it on safe landing areas and gangway the creation of a range of subcommittees, is held in Houston in September 2019. operations, and is aiming for document as needed, to support and augment GPC The coordination of GPC meetings with approval at GPC 80. Similarly, a pressure

30 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Committees and Subcommittees

relief valve (PRV) guidance document Strategic Plan 2016 initiative, recognised the safety of cargo operations through has been completed which updates gas the critical importance of the human factor detailed consideration of operational carrier cargo system PRV design and and training in gas carrier and terminal practice within the specification and maintenance guidelines previously operations in the drive to sustain the design of CCR workstations and HMI. issued by SIGTTO in 1998. The ESD liquefied gas sector’s unparalleled safety Two further HEC working groups Working Group is pressing ahead with performance. The HEC’s remit includes, but currently have work underway. The Gap a revision of SIGTTO’s 2009 publication is not limited to, competency and training, Analysis Competency Working Group ESD Arrangements and Linked Ship/Shore design and ergonomics and the human is continuing to establish methodology Systems for Liquefied Gas Carriers. It is element side of incident investigation. for the major revision of SIGTTO’s also working to align all ESD references HEC met for the first time in September four competency publications. The across the SIGTTO publications portfolio. 2016, and its biannual meetings, which introduction of new technologies in the are held in Northern Europe, are timed LNG industry has resulted in a need to Floating subcommittee for a date approximately six weeks revise relevant parts of the Society’s LNG The remit of SIGTTO’s new Floating before GPC meetings whenever possible. carrier crew competency guidelines. LNG Installations Subcommittee (SC) is Such scheduling helps streamline the Finally, the Working Group for Shore to provide guidance on the design and inter-committee liaison process. Staff Competencies is involved with operation of the growing fleet of floating HEC has 13 members and two observers, scoping the applicability of topics within process vessels now being utilised by the and the two initial meetings were focused its agreed terms of reference. Topics LNG industry. The installations falling on establishing the general scope and covered include shore staff competencies under the new group’s purview include activities of the new Committee. The for owners/operators of gas carriers and floating LNG production (FLNG) vessels, definition of the human element, the their interfaces with vessels and terminals. floating storage and regasification units management of incidents and a review Going forward, HEC has established a (FSRUs), floating regasification units of the design and ergonomics of cargo ‘Strategy Structure’ chart to demonstrate (FRUs) and floating storage units (FSUs). control rooms were amongst those topics how its work programme accords with At the two inaugural SC meetings, held identified as worthy of consideration. an overall vision and the specific targeted in early 2018, it was recognised that there SIGTTO’s HEC has recently published goals of its human element programme. were three specific areas where participants its first set of guidance. The document, Upkeep of the ‘live document’ will itemise in the floating LNG sector would derive Recommendations for Management of Cargo agenda items in progress and worthy benefit from the speedy availability of Alarm Systems, has been compiled by HEC’s of consideration grouped under the industry best practice guidelines. As a result Cargo Control Room (CCR) Ergonomics Committee’s four strategic objectives, or three working groups were established Working Group and was approved by pillars, i.e. human element/safety critical to deal with topics relating to the site the Society’s Board in May 2019. analysis, measurement tool/incident review, assessment, design criteria and operational The CCRWorking Group has already design and ergonomics, and competence. guidance, respectively, as they relate to embarked on its next project relating SIGTTO continues to focus on accident nearshore/offshore floating LNG assets. to cargo control room layout and prevention, not least through the use Work by SC and its initial three ergonomics. Aspects such as control of major accident/process safety risk working groups has progressed smoothly, station layout, physical environment, management tools like ‘bow tie’ and to the extent that it is hoped to present operator interface, controls, displays and the prioritisation of training on major a final guidance document for review at the human/machine interface (HMI) are incident risks and avoidance. HEC will the 81st GPC meeting in spring 2020. being considered. The aim is to develop adapt its activities to accommodate guidance for operators on how to improve ongoing developments in this field. Human element in the spotlight A key landmark in the process that resulted in the establishment of the Society’s Human Element Committee (HEC) was the decision taken at the 64th GPC meeting in 2011 to establish a Human Factors Working Group. The new body was charged with creating a quality training regime for shore-based staff and trainers, based on the existing SIGTTO crew competency standards. Completing its task as far as was practicable at the time, the Human Factors Working Group recommended that further work on competency assurance, including additional training of shore staff, human factors and process safety should be carried out as per GPC direction. A key achievement of the Group’s deliberations was the Suggested Quality Standards for LNG Training Providers document which SIGTTO made available in November 2014. SIGTTO’s subsequent decision to form The Human Element Committee‘s first guidance document has been produced HEC as a full committee, as part of its by the Cargo Control Room (CCR) Ergonomics Working Group

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 31 A selection of photos from the Society’s past

1 2

4 5

1. Adele Ball (centre), SIGTTO’s first Office Manager, helped the Secretariat maintain a steady course for many years 2. James MacHardy visits the Ilawa lakeside training centre in Poland and the 11.5-metre Dorchester Lady, a manned scale model that enables officers to test their LNGC navigating skills 3. Atlantic LNG hosted the 2000 Panel Meeting in Trinidad 4. Technical Adviser Rick Boudiette, a US national, is introduced to the finer points of a game far removed from baseball at the Oval Cricket Ground in London 5. General Manager Bill Wayne visited the Mizushima power station, then recently converted from coal to gas-burning, in 2008; the adjacent receiving facility had opened in 2006 as Japan’s 26th LNG import terminal

32 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Professor Kletz advised against the introduction of unnecessary complexities, whether in process plant or liquefied gas handling systems

Chemical Industries (ICI), Gordon Sellars, an ICI hazard analyst, and Dr John In praise of the Bond, safety advisor at BP Chemicals. Loved by its employees and with subsidiaries worldwide, ICI was central industry’s pioneering to UK chemical manufacture for over 80 years. On the gases front the company’s Teesport works in North East England teachers and leaders was active in the manufacture of ethylene and ammonia, the salt cavern storage of LPG, hydrate prevention and the road Robin Gray, the Society’s second General tanker delivery of liquefied gases to tanker Manager, from 1985 to 1991, pays tribute jetties for gas carrier cooling-down trials. to a number of early industry leading Amongst his many projects, Prof Kletz masterminded the 1987 production lights who brought significant benefits of a video training package entitled to SIGTTO’s membership, not least by demystifying Safer, Cheaper Plants, focused on the safety inherent in processes designed to the technology of handling liquefied gas cargoes avoid the introduction of unnecessary complexities. He also compiled An he years pre-SIGTTO, coinciding continued to build upon over the years. Engineer’s View of Human Error, a with the nascent stage of gas At the same time the technologies valuable 1991 publication. In 1992 his shipping worldwide, posed behind containment and propulsion ICI colleague Gordon Sellars prepared T unique challenges. The merits systems and cargo-handling SIGTTO’s Guidelines on Hazard Analysis of liquefied gases as an energy source equipment were evolving, SIGTTO was for Operators (of which, more later). were attracting more and more attention, embarking on developing its portfolio Another teacher for our industry was Dr prompting far-sighted owners to embark on of industry best-practice guidelines, John Bond, especially his 1988 paper The the construction of prototype LNG tankers. in many cases from scratch. Management of Safety. In it John outlined I’d like to take the opportunity the Three Laws of Loss Prevention. The offered by the Society’s 40th anniversary Teachers and the human element First Law states that he who ignores the publication to acknowledge some of SIGTTO’s London base provided us past is condemned to repeating it, while the tanker and terminal engineers and with proximity and access to some key the Second Law confirms that the key to operators who played an invaluable role in process industry experts in the UK success in preventing loss is to anticipate establishing the solid foundations for the chemical sector, including Professor the future. The Third Law points out exemplary record that our industry has Trevor Kletz, safety advisor at Imperial that what gets measured gets done. >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 33 inadvertent tank venting during normal operations and the delay in the venting for as long as is safe. Also, any tank venting that did occur would be limited to the minimum required to prevent tank over-pressure. Professor Jim Venart of the Fire Science Center at the University of New Brunswick in Canada had developed a fully instrumented laboratory pressure tank with acrylic flat end plates and a high-speed photography capability. Degrees of fire engulfment of the unit could be simulated using electrically heated pads around the tank, and in this way it was possible to Japan was one of the first countries to be visited by measure multiple liquid temperatures, SIGTTO, literally months after the Society was established vapour pressure, relief valve operations and vent pipe-to-atmosphere back pressure. In 1986 the Fire Science Center was > The Three Laws of Loss Prevention of Type C tanks in a fire situation. contracted to model the consequences of stress that the most critical factor when The study’s findings that (a) a 98 a collision between a laden LPG carrier it comes to ensuring safe operations is per cent liquid fill level offers the best and an oil tanker carrying naphtha. the human element. This observation protection against tank rupture on fire The scenario envisioned a large pool was reinforced and put into words for exposure and (b) the cargo tank pressure fire taking hold while the two vessels SIGTTO, in different ways, by an impressive relief valve setting should be set at the remained locked together. According triumvirate. DuPont, the international maximum allowable relief valve setting to the Center’s apparatus, the practical chemical company, concluded that, after (MARVS) of the tank, were agreed at IMO. heat input was predicted to be some studying the lessons learned from almost The safety benefits stemming from such 2.9 times the heat input assumed in the 200 years of industrial experience, about an arrangement include a minimisation of Gas Carrier Code for relief valve sizing. 96 per cent of all incidents can be directly attributed to the actions of people, not to faulty equipment or inadequate standards. For its part the Royal Air Force’s Institute of Aviation Medicine found that after the error sources that could jeopardise safety are identified, it is prudent to adopt the pessimistic but practical philosophy that if an error can happen, it will. It is sensible to prevent the occurrence of any potentially dangerous event by making the action leading to such an outcome detectable … by ensuring that it becomes known wherever it should be known. “This approach may seem rather obvious,” said the Institute, “but it has not always been done in the past.” A Japanese LNG terminal operator that was a SIGTTO member weighed in on the human element argument by stating that “We reward staff who report near-miss incidents as if discovering buried treasure.” The above three human element observations effectively signal implementation of the Second and Third Laws of Loss Prevention. Type C tank safer loading limits SIGTTO went to Canada and the US for laboratory modelling and large pressure tank expertise for a joint study, Safer Loading Limits for Type C tanks, completed jointly with the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) for submission to IMO’s Bulk Chemicals (BCH) Brian Singleton promoted the great networking opportunities Sub-committee. The study considered the as one of the core strengths of his Gastech series of meetings behaviour of the liquefied gas contents

34 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Prof Venart ran his model with the LPG carrier loaded to 98 per cent of its cargo tank volume and the pressure relief valve set at the MARVS for the tank. The president of Fauske and Associates Inc, Dr Hans Fauske was contracted in 1988 to present simple calculational methods to verify safe pressure relief of liquid-filled ship tanks under practical fire exposure, and to describe the liquid fraction vented and its dispersion behaviour. SIGTTO was fortunate to have access, through Dr Fauske, to the Phil Arthur, Dick Eddy and Barry Thomas were amongst the methodology of the American Institute engineering support team on board Methane Pioneer in February of Chemical Engineers’ Design Institute 1959 when it carried the historic first-ever cargo of LNG for Emergency Relief Systems and to a detailed report on the fire engulfment of two 64-tonne LPG rail tank cars involved in technical knowledge to the UN agency from notable contribution to international a JP 4 jet fuel pool fire in 1973. The results his long career at Germanischer Lloyd and maritime safety wasCDR John William of both confirmed Dr Fauske’s predictions his participation in the work of IACS. His (Bill) Kime. Bill logged 41 years of service to be conservative by a factor of four. IMO chairmanships were renowned for with the Coast Guard, rising to the rank Brian Singleton and his three co- the firm and fair way he steered the groups of admiral and becoming commandant directors established the Gastech series of through sensitive and complex issues. of the agency, from 1990 to 1994. We LNG and LPG conferences and exhibitions Bob Lakey, originally with the US knew him when he was chief of the in the early 1970s and were past masters Coast Guard (USCG), was another industry Coast Guard’s marine safety, security and at bringing the global industry together guiding light with whom the Society had environmental protection office and the in amenable surroundings and arranging a close affinity. He was chairman of the ad leader of the US delegation at meetings networking opportunities on an epic scale, hoc working group set up in 1971 by IMCO, of the IMO’s Maritime Safety and Marine including during relaxing and memorable as IMO was then known, to develop a Gas Environment Protection Committees. evening receptions. Pre-event papers were Carrier Code with provisions governing complemented by post-event Gastech the carriage of liquefied gases in bulk. The Methane Pioneer contribution proceedings that logged all the discussions group carried out its work through to 1975 The seagoing technical staff onboard the and provided an invaluable information and Bob and his US colleagues insisted 5,500 m3 Methane Pioneer in February 1959, source. SIGTTO took the opportunity to that the IACS members would need to be when the converted gas ship successfully organise various of its internal meetings to in full agreement on the central provisions transported the first seaborne cargo of coincide with the Gastech events and take governing cargo containment, cargo LNG, from the US to the UK, included Phil advantage of the cross-fertilisation of ideas. handling and materials of construction. The Arthur, Dick Eddy and William duBarry Code was adopted by IMCO in November Thomas. Phil was superintendent engineer Pioneering leaders 1975 and Bob Lakey went on to develop with Stephenson Clarke, the operator of We need to acknowledge the liquefied a successful gas shipping consultancy the historic prototype vessel. I would get gas sector’s pioneering naval architects, and strong ties with SIGTTO. He also to know Phil when his company later engineers, managers and entrepreneurs. found time, later in his career, to chair the contracted the Tyneside yard of Hawthorn One such was Barry Hunsacker, president Gastech series of conferences after Brian Leslie where I worked to convert a small of El Paso LNG Company in the US and Singleton had departed the business. coaster into a semi-refrigerated LPG/ also SIGTTO’s founding President. It was Another USCG officer who made a chemical gas carrier with two Type C tanks. Barry who gave the Society its unique Dick Eddy and Barry Thomas were both terms of reference for the safe transport naval architects with the consultancy firm of liquefied gases when he stated “We will JJ Henry, the company that masterminded best achieve our goals by sharing with the conversion of Methane Pioneer into each other our non-proprietary technical the world’s first LNG carrier. Dick went and safety information and operating on to become a director of the Malaysian experiences through open and frank International Shipping Company (MISC). discussion. Only in this way will each The five 130,000 m3 Gaz Transport of us benefit from the experience and membrane ships constructed for MISC in knowledge gained by all of us and thus France in the early 1980s enabled Malaysia maximise the safety of our operations. to become the world’s sixth LNG export Remember, the industry will be judged by nation. By 1991, when I left SIGTTO, this the record of its least-safe operator. Let’s fleet had logged an aggregate 822 voyages. help ourselves by helping that operator.” Barry Thomas asw also closely involved Martin Böckenhauer was a trusted with the specification drawn up for the supporter of SIGTTO. As chairman of Bob Lakey chaired the Gastech series 27,400 m3 Methane Princess and Methane both the Bulk Chemicals (BCH) and Bulk of conferences later in his career, Progress, the first two purpose-built Liquids and Gases (BLG) Sub-committees while his wife Claudia provided sterling commercial LNG carriers, completed in the at IMO, he brought an immense depth of support on event-organising duties mid-1960s. He is best known to SIGTTO >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 35 Descartes was just one of many examples of the pioneering contributions made by France to the field of LNG carrier technology

> members as the compiler of the famous insulated by the balsa wood insulation quartet of 40,000 m3 vessels required LNG Log series of publications on behalf system developed by Conch. Descartes to transport cargoes from Libya to Italy of the Society. He had an unerring ability had logged 448 voyages by 1991. and Spain. Al Delli Paoli was the Esso to not only record the achievements of Audy Gilles was the head of a Worms superintendent responsible for the fleet the global portfolio of LNG ships and Group team that began work, with support which comprised three ships built at the terminals in succinct style but also to put from Gaz de France, on its own designs Italcantieri yard in Genoa and one at the a humorous or insightful historical spin for a French LNG carrier in 1959. The Astano yard in El Ferrol in northwestern on these achievements, viz his A Victorian experimental ship Beauvais, completed Spain. Esso was renamed Exxon in 1973, Space Age Parable on the inside back in 1962 and fitted with three different shortly after the ships entered into service, cover of LNG Log 17, published in 1991. types of small tank, and France’s first and in 1991 Delli Paoli was appointed commercial LNG carrier, Jules Verne, Exxon’s representative on SIGTTO’s French contingent delivered in 1965, were the tangible results General Purposes Committee (GPC). France made a major contribution from that group's early work. Unconvinced to liquefied gas transport from the of the future commercial viability of the Spheres all round outset and, amongst that country’s free-standing LNG tank systems of these The Kvaerner Group naval architectRolf early pioneers, Renè Boudet, Jean first two ships, Worms established Gaz Kvamsdal in Norway became the public Alleaume and Audy Gilles stand out. Transport to develop its own distinctive face of what turned out to be the most A larger-than-life character, Renè Boudet membrane tank system, with its 36 per popular cargo containment system for had established Gazocéan as an LPG carrier cent nickel-sheet steel primary and the early generation of LNG carriers – the operator and trading company in 1957. In secondary barriers of invar and perlite- Kvaerner Moss spherical tank design. 1962 his naval architect, Jean Alleaume, filled plywood box insulation system. The Type B spherical tank was a simple, convinced him of the merits of an LNG The Gaz Transport membrane was independent tank designed to the ‘leak membrane tank containment system chosen for two 71,500 m3 LNG carriers before failure’ principle that obviated the developed by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and ordered at the Kockums yard in Sweden need for much of a secondary barrier Gazocéan acquired the Norwegian patents in 1967 by Phillips Petroleum and beyond a small drip tray, and several to the design and further developed the Marathon Oil for their planned Alaska/ spherical tank designs were put forward concept in a project that was to yield the Japan project. Bob Wheeler, the marine in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Technigaz Mark I containment system. superintendent at Marathon Oil, played a approaches differed only in the method In 1963 Gazocéan formed Technigaz as key role in establishing the systems that in which the tanks were supported by the its technical subsidiary, with Alleaume its underpinned the successful operation ship’s hull structure and the Kvaerner Moss director. The following year the company of the two vessels. Named Polar Alaska technology, encompassing a cylindrical commissioned the 630m3 Pythagore, a and Arctic Tokyo on delivery in 1969, the skirt connected to the tank at an equatorial prototype ship with a Technigaz membrane pair remained in service for 45 years, ring piece, proved the most efficacious. tank and secondary barrier. Boudet while the Gaz Transport membrane, The firstvaerner K Moss spherical then established Conch Ocean, a joint like the Technigaz system, has gone on tank ship, the 88,000 m3 Norman Lady, venture with Conch, and in 1968 placed to enjoy great success as an LNG carrier with its five tanks of 9 per cent nickel a speculative order for a 50,000m3 LNG containment system. Established in 1994, steel, was built by the Moss Rosenburg carrier at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) now yard in Norway in 1973. In the following yard in St Nazaire. That ship, Descartes, manages both membrane technologies. years Germany, the US, Japan and Korea was the first commercial gas carrier with Another distinct early LNG containment joined Norway in building Kvaerner Moss Technigaz Mark I membrane cargo tanks. system was the double-walled aluminium spherical tank ships, and the 5083-0 alloy The waffled stainless steel tanks were tank system developed by Esso for its of aluminium came to be the favoured

36 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication material of tank construction. The most early meetings in Japan in which he 1976. It was clear that, as a result of the notable of the early spherical tank fleets described the first LNG project fleet rulemaking, risk assessment methods was that made up of eight 125,000 m3 of Japanese-owned vessels. The fleet were to be applied to the liquefied gas ships built by the General Dynamics comprised seven 125,000 m3 spherical shipping and terminal industry. Quincy yard in the US in the late 1970s tank ships, all of which were built in Japan As some uniformity of approach was for Energy Transportation Corp (ETC) and and ownership was shared between NYK, to be desired in the application of these operation on the Indonesia/Japan project, MOL, K Line, Showa Line, YS Line and methods, SIGTTO contracted Arthur D then the world’s largest. ETC’s Ed Tornay Japan LNG. The newbuildings, which Little Ltd of Cambridge in the UK to draft was an early chairman of SIGTTO’s GPC. commenced delivering in 1983, went appropriate guidelines, with appropriate into service carrying Indonesian LNG to input from a working group comprised of Japan at the centre Japan. The fleet augmented the eight ETC the Society’s members. The result was the Japan has been receiving LNG since 1969 ships on the same route and consolidated SIGTTO publication Guidelines for Hazard and has been the world’s largest LNG Indonesia/Japan as the world’s busiest Analysis as an Aid to Management of Safe importer since the start of the Brunei LNG trade lane. By 1991 the septet Operations. Published in 1992, the 160-page project in late 1972/early 1973. Upon had carried 1,012 cargoes to Japan. document came complete with worksheets its establishment, SIGTTO was quick to Organisation of SIGTTO’s follow-up and graphs for consequence analysis, recognise the key roles played by Japanese Japanese visit fell to Yasuo Hosoya. The hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies gas buyers such as Tokyo Electric Power technical sessions, which were held at and failure mode and effect analysis, along Co (TEPCO), Tokyo Gas and Osaka Gas the TEPCO offices, were attended by with a three-page glossary of terms. and the leading Japanese shipowners, 30 existing and potential members. A Your General Manager was a member notably NYK Line, Mitsui OSK Lines trio of receiving terminals were visited, of the UK Health and Safety Commission’s (MOL) and K Line, in the development of namely Sodegaura, the Senboku facility Marine Risk Analyisis Working Party their commitment to safe LNG transport. of Osaka Gas and the Himeji terminal from 1988. The final publication, Shortly after its launch, in February 1980, operated by Kansai Electric Power Co. published in 1991, 379 pages in length the Society travelled to the country to Our host balanced the business of each and entitled Major Hazard Aspects of visit existing and potential members. day with a number of fine introductions the Transport of Dangerous Substances, Key Japanese liquefied gas industry to Japanese culture and cuisine. found that the hazards associated with leaders who provided strong support to liquefied gas operations in port areas SIGTTO during the Society’s first decade Risk minimisation were “as low as reasonably practicable”! were Shigeetsu Miyahara of TEPCO, Akira Following a meeting on the same subject What a privilege it was to meet all the Yazaki of Tokyo Gas, Ishigawa-San of a year earlier, a number of European liquefied gas teachers and leaders listed NYK Line and Yasuo Hosoya of TEPCO’s members of SIGTTO met in September above over the period 1960-1991. LNG is Thermal Power Division. TEPCO and 1988 to discuss the potential impact of the least-polluting hydrocarbon fuel and Tokyo Gas launched Japan’s commitment the Seveso Directive on their operations. the finest industrial chemical feedstock. to natural gas, imported from overseas Directive 82/501/EC was a European But beware. Operators, suppliers and liquefaction plants as LNG, with the joint law entitled Directive on the control domestic users constitute the human factor, purchase of Alaskan volumes from Phillips of major-accident hazards involving the weakest link in a very strong chain. Petroleum and Marathon Oil, starting in dangerous substances, passed in 1982 So, enjoy your privileges, keep learning 1969. LNG, which was discharged at the as result of the Seveso chemical plant and thank you for an unequalled record two utilities’ shared Negishi receiving disaster which occurred in Italy in in safe gas ship and terminal operations. terminal in Tokyo Bay, accorded with the Japanese government’s desire to cut down on atmospheric pollution and diversify the country’s energy sources. Miyahara-San of TEPCO was an early SIGTTO Vice President. TEPCO and Tokyo Gas commissioned their second joint LNG import terminal, at Sodegaura across Tokyo Bay from Negishi, in 1973 and shipments from Lumut in Brunei were the first to arrive. On SIGTTO’s inaugural visit to Japan Azira Yazaki of Tokyo Gas arranged visits to not only the Sodegaura terminal but also the Higashi- Ohgishima receiving facility. The LNG Centre at the latter terminal is open to the public and plays host to a ongoing round of school visits. The user-friendly exhibits seek to explain the technology behind liquefied gas shipping and terminals in a simple, straightforward way and, by doing so, to allay any fears arising from the presence of this industrial activity. Completed in 1973 as the first Kvaerner Moss spherical Ishigawa-San of NYK Line made a tank ship, Norman Lady remained in service for 40 years keynote presentation at one of SIGTTO’s

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 37

To date only one compressed natural gas (CNG) carrier has been built Blind alleyways in natural gas shipping?

time, i.e. a 125,000 m3 vessel. The design Bill Wayne*, SIGTTO’s seventh General Manager, resulted in a CNG ship which cost at least looks at three early natural gas shipping three times as much as the LNG carrier but technologies that, despite three decades of carried only about one-sixth of its cargo. One advantage was that, because the development, have not (yet) met initial high hopes cargo containment system was so heavy, we didn’t need any ballast water tanks, uring the 1980s various So, efforts were directed at finding just a couple of trimming tanks. The internal studies were lighter containers. The first step was to look disadvantage was that the draught, even conducted at my company, at high-strength steels, then composites. when empty, was such that we could not D Shell, into aspects of shipping Unfortunately, the latter were porous at the find a drydock in the world with sufficient natural gas. The three most significant elevated pressures, so needed a metallic water depth over the sill to dock the ship. ones were (a) the marine transport of liner and the costs were rising. One CNG And we haven’t touched on the compressed natural gas (CNG); (b) LNG boil- technology promoter came up with the issues around how you actually load off reliquefaction on ships (DRL); and (c) idea of using relatively small diameter steel and unload one of these CNG ships. floating LNG production (FLNG). This article tube wrapped on a spool or ‘coselle’, but this briefly describes the studies and looks at the approach still suffered the same problems LNG reliquefaction (DRL) conclusions with the benefit of hindsight. – too heavy and low energy density. There were two drivers for investigating It was becoming clear that CNG was not LNG reliquefaction on board LNG Compressed natural gas (CNG) going to answer the problem of expensive carriers. The first was that the large- The drive to investigate the concept of the LNG plants. However, maybe there was a scale LPG trade was all conducted with marine transport of CNG came from a niche where it would work … In one strand reliquefaction as the normal outfit for the perception that the costs of LNG production of the study we looked at cooling the gas, carriers. Additionally, all LNG carriers plants were too high. Wouldn’t it be simpler which improved the economics, so we employed steam turbines, which were and cheaper to keep the gas in the vapour cooled it a bit more and the economics recognised as having relatively poor thermal phases throughout the supply chain? were better still – until we found that if efficiency compared with diesel engines. The main challenge of CNG transport we cooled it to -160°C we could eliminate Whilst the then current LNG ships’ fuel quickly emerged – that of the energy density the costly and heavy pressure vessels, consumption closely matched the natural of the product. We had to go to very high whereupon the economics worked! boil-off, one could foresee improvements pressures, 300 bar plus, by which time the One final part of the study was to resulting in reduced cargo boil-off gas gas containment system had become very prepare an outline design of a CNG ship rates, potentially making diesel propulsion heavy and expensive. Even at these levels, the based on having a laden displacement the and reliquefaction attractive. At that energy density was barely half that of LNG. same as a standard LNG carrier of that time investigations were already >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 39 Projects based on the use of FLNG vessels positioned in far-offshore locations pose economic challenges In conclusion How do these studies from the 1980s look with the benefit of hindsight in SIGTTO’s 40th year? For CNG, the first CNG ship was delivered in 2018 to Indonesia. But only one such ship has ever been built. This would seem to validate the conclusions of the original studies: that CNG is a niche product and does not offer viable competition for conventional LNG in most cases. Regarding onboard reliquefaction, history relates that a major project selected this option – conventional diesel engines in tandem with reliquefaction plants - for a fleet of newbuilds in the 2000s. However, > under way on the consumption of boil- – offshore, by making use of a floating the promoters of that scheme are the only off gas in diesel engines, but we could vessel. The broad conclusion of the FLNG ones to have opted for that arrangement; not be sure of a successful outcome. study was that it was technically feasible. no other project has followed that lead. Our preliminary studies showed that The issue of argoc transfer was noted. Whilst the decision for this project was the Brayton cycle offered the most practical It was assumed that early projects would made when gas burning in diesel engines technical solution. The result of the studies be in benign conditions with side-by- was largely unproven and steam turbines was that reliquefaction was technically side berthing. For more exposed offshore were not a practical solution for the size feasible, but the economics didn’t work. locations, the experience from the oil of vessels contemplated, the original At a qualitative level, remembering industry pointed to the advantages conclusions of the study are still valid. that all a reliquefaction plant does is offered by tandem mooring schemes with It is noted that many new LNG carrier produce LNG, the shore plant has the dynamically positioned (DP) offtake vessels. newbuildings have been specified in advantage of large-scale output; it employs A couple of other points came out of the recent years with two-stroke, gas-burning in-to-plant gas priced at production costs study. Because the product was competing diesel engines in combination with partial plus royalties to drive it and, typically, against conventional LNG, from a major reliquefaction systems. However, the it has a feed gas pressure about 60-70 international oil company (IOC) perspective, argument for this arrangement is somewhat bar. This, from a physics perspective, we needed to go as large as possible for the different and such a propulsion system was results in reduced power requirements economies of scale, i.e. the hull needed to not considered in the original studies. resulting from the end-flash process. be as big as could be competitively tendered As regards the conclusions of the FLNG In contrast, with a shipboard to existing shipyards. We also recognised study, at the time of writing there are five reliquefaction unit we have lost the benefits that major known onshore or nearshore FLNG vessels in service, one a conversion of scale and have very low feed gas pressure. reserves would need to be developed and four purpose-built. The first of the Taken together, these considerations mean first, as they posed fewer technical and quintet entered service for Petronas in 2017. that the specific power requirement of a cost challenges. We specifically identified Of the complement, the largest is Shell’s shipboard reliquefaction system is three the Qatar North Field as one of these. Prelude vessel which has the ability to to four times that of the large-scale LNG What these conclusions were effectively process up to 3.6 million tonnes per annum production plant. And we use expensive, saying was that FLNG was only more of LNG. That capacity is three times greater bought-in conventional liquid fuel to economic against shore plants in the than that of the next largest FLNG vessel. drive it. In other words, if you want far offshore. However, a far-offshore The conclusions of the 1980s studies would LNG, produce it in a large-scale plant on FLNG project would still be very costly seem largely to have been correct, but the shore, not in small packets on ships. and could not compete against other jury is out on the real part that the FLNG nearshore or onshore reserves. In other option will play in future LNG business. Floating LNG (FLNG) words, you would only go the FLNG route In the1980s offshore oil production when you had no other alternatives! * Bill Wayne worked for Shell International was starting to take off, initially with Another issue was that of expandability. Marine in the 1980s, and from 1982 the introduction of the first floating The strategy for onshore LNG plants was onwards his involvement was solely with storage units (FSU) and then floating that the initial project, maybe involving one the LNG/LPG shipping business. In 1984 he production, storage and offtake (FPSO) or two trains, was designed with expansion was appointed to be Shell’s representative vessels. The question was then asked: in mind. The project would start up with on SIGTTO’s General Purposes Committee if it works for oil, why not LNG? the original trains but, after revenues were (GPC). He kept this position until 1996 A particular drawback for shore- established, another train would be built, when Shell posted him to Japan. After his based LNG liquefaction plants processing effectively at a marginal cost because it return to London, he re-joined the GPC in offshore gas is the high cost associated could utilise the existing storage tanks and 2001 and stayed on the Committee until with providing subsea lines to bring the export facilities, and then another train. At he retired from Shell in 2007. He was then gas to shore for processing. With the gas some stage more storage and a second jetty appointed General Manager of SIGTTO, at some unspecified distance offshore, it might be needed, but the costs are spread a position he held until November 2012. would become cheaper to do everything over a larger scheme. With FLNG, the only This is the first of two Bill Wayne articles – LNG production, storage and offloading expansion option is another FLNG unit. in this issue; the second is on page 98.

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Lloyd’s Register and variants of it are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates. Copyright © Lloyd’s Register Group Limited. 2019. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group. One outcome of the Type C tank filling limits debate was the production of SIGTTO guidelines on the design of masthead venting system design

One of the most significant personal changes for me with my new job was SIGTTO in the Nineties the commuting. Having been spoiled for two decades by the location of Shell Dick Chadburn remembers the 1990s as Centre adjacent to Waterloo station, I eventful years for the Society, not least two now found myself also having to face the “Drain”, the underground line linking Provisional IRA bombings and a long debate Waterloo with the City of London, and a on IMO Type C cargo tank filling limits walk from Bank station up Bishopsgate to Stonehouse Court off Houndsditch. joined SIGTTO as a Technical Adviser flow about which little was known. It was there that Bruce and I began in mid-1991 at the time when Bruce Robin Gray thought that working in this to put into practice SIGTTO’s objectives Keer became General Manager. particular area, along with the many other of safe working and standardisation at I The outgoing General Manager, Technical Adviser tasks then pertaining, the ship/shore interface for gas ships Robin Gray, had been deeply involved would appeal to me. So, I joined SIGTTO. and gas terminals. We also enjoyed with modifying IMO’s International Gas The outgoing SIGTTO Technical Adviser getting to know the membership and Carrier (IGC) Code to allow the cargo tank was Doug Brown. He accompanied me continuing the aforementioned cycle of filling limits for Type C gas carriers to be on my first encounter with the combined overseas visits and technical conferences. extended. SIGTTO’s position supported technical day and Board meeting that Another focus for us was assisting well-filled cargo tanks. In the event of the Society held every six months at a members when they approached the fire impinging on a full tank, the venting venue chosen by a member company. Secretariat with queries and problems. process would keep the tank cool for In this case it was Taiwan. We were considerably longer than the then IGC accommodated in a very traditional Take it to the limit Code allowed. This was good for both building which had originally been the As part of picking up the reins with the safety and cargo-carrying capacity. headquarters of General Chiang Kai-shek. Type C tank filling limits work, I became There asw considerable opposition After that inaugural trip Bruce Keer involved with IMO’s Bulk Chemicals to the SIGTTO position from the US and I, as the new boys, settled into (BCH) Subcommittee which was then delegation. The Americans called on SIGTTO’s routine. We were very ably chaired by Martin Böckenhauer. A naval SIGTTO to demonstrate that the tank assisted and guided by Mrs Adele Ball architect with Germanischer Lloyd (GL) pressure relief valves (PRVs) could maintain who had been secretary to SIGTTO’s first and the representative for the International an internal pressure of no more than 20 General Manager, Maurice Holdsworth. Association of Classification Societies per cent above the maximum allowable I knew Maurice from our Shell days; (IACS) at IMO, Martin was a splendid relief valve setting (MARVS). By filling to he was an excellent manager and is chap and a close friend of Robin Gray. SIGTTO’s proposed levels, PRVs would be rightfully acknowledged as a key mover At some stage IACS and SIGTTO had subjected to a liquid, two-phase flashing and shaker behind the SIGTTO concept. sought an alliance to change the IGC

42 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Code’s Type C tank filling limit provisions. Gastech paper on the subject, the others detonated another, much larger It had been accepted that the fuller the being given in 1984 and 1990. Towards bomb very close to our new home. tank the longer it could remain cool the end of my SIGTTO tenure, Roger The explosives were packed in a truck under fire conditions. What remained Roue joined me as the Society’s second parked in front of St Ethelburga’s Church to be determined, at the request of Technical Adviser and, after my departure, in Bishopsgate. Our office overlooked the US delegation, supported by other he continued to tackle the final loose a small courtyard immediately behind IMO member nations, was to prove ends raised by the filling limits debate. the church. The detonation destroyed that the PRVs could handle flashing St Ethelburga’s and wrecked much else, liquid without exceeding a setting Caught up in politics including our new offices. Fortunately, that was 20 per cent above MARVS. Unfortunately, political turmoil was to the caterers had not yet turned up when Immediately prior to my joining impinge on SIGTTO’s technical activities the blast occurred. Bruce Keer and I were SIGTTO, Robin had contacted Dr Hans during the 1990s. Just as Bruce Keer and permitted into the area on Monday morning Fauske, who was president of Fauske and I felt we were settled in at the Society, we to see the extent of the damage to No Associates Inc and had connections with the received a rude awakening. At 9.20 PM on 10 17. It was eerie walking up Bishopsgate, University of New Brunswick in Canada. April 1992 the Provisional Irish Republican with only the sound of glass crunching The University’s Fire Service Center was Army (Provisional IRA) detonated a bomb beneath our feet to break the silence. researching the thermodynamics and in London’s Baltic Exchange. SIGTTO’s The SIGTTO office was a mess. All the fluid mechanics of two-phase flashing office in Stonehouse Court suffered damage false ceilings were down, and there was a flow, a phenomenon about which we badly in the blast; the ceiling over my desk was hole in our boundary wall large enough needed information. Martin recruited down and some windows were blown out. for a man to pass into St Ethelburga’s Gerd Würsig, also of Germanischer Lloyd, The bombing took place at a time courtyard. Because our library had who was able, in tandem with Robin when SIGTTO’s office rental agreement collapsed in on itself, we hardly lost any Gray, to check Fauske’s conclusions. had a break clause. Bruce Keer decided books or papers. The following week the The filling limitsork w turned out to be we should seek pastures new at location Bishop of London and other officials my main preoccupation during my six years with a lower rental fee. After a detailed approached us to see if they could with SIGTTO. Once we had determined search, we settled on 17 St Helen’s Place, assess the damage to St Ethelburga’s. that the PRVs were adequate for the role, off Bishopsgate, which had been part of the They borrowed my camera and passed the issue of whether we could have flashing old Indo-Suez Bank. We were most pleased through our wall to record the damage. liquid at the mast head vents was raised. As with not only our new headquarters but The negatives, which they returned to me, a result of these investigations, we compiled also the rental charges, these being about bear testimony to the extent of the chaos. guidelines for the design of venting half of what we were paying previously. SIGTTO removed to basement systems to prevent such happenings. We moved in early March 1993 and were premises in Worship Street as temporary SIGTTO also produced a booklet quickly up and running. We decided to have accommodation and everyone, wives entitled Application of Amendments to an office opening party and scheduled the included, helped in the office transfer Gas Carrier Codes concerning Type C event for 23 April 1993, a Friday. We had an operation. We remained in Worship Street Tank Loading Limits. At Gastech 94 in excellent party, with many invited guests, for almost a year, until it was possible to Kuala Lumpur Martin Böckenhauer, Gerd and as we departed at a rather late hour return to a refurbished No 17 St Helen’s Würsig, Bernt Olav Bauer-Nilsen from we agreed with the caterers that they could Place. Mercifully, the City of London was Det Norske Veritas and myself presented a come in over the weekend to clear up. free of further terrorist attacks during paper outlining our findings, making the Such plans went up in smoke at 10:27 the rest of my time with SIGTTO. case that we could safely proceed with the AM the next morning, Saturday When Bruce Keer retired, he was proposed filling limits. That was the third 24 April, when the Provisional IRA replaced as SIGTTO General Manager by Alain Vaudelon, with whom I had the same pleasant relationship. I was with SIGTTO for a further three years during which the SIGTTO membership continued to grow. In the closing stages of my SIGTTO career I took over the editorship of LNG Log from William duBarry Thomas. I produced the last hard copy, Number 21, before the Log went digital. SIGTTO’s reputation was also thriving during this spell. I kept a record of the queries with which I dealt in the April- to-June 1997 period. Of the 18 noted, only four were from members. SIGTTO was becoming an authority on liquefied gas shipping and storage even beyond its growing membership, and I’m pleased to note that this continues to be the case. I look back on my time with SIGTTO with considerable nostalgia. It was a happy time for both my wife and myself. I met and worked with a number of excellent The Bishopsgate bombing forced SIGTTO into temporary accommodation for almost a year people, folk I remain in touch with today.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 43 Dedicated to the extreme

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presentation material pre-printed onto On organising SIGTTO acetate sheets but still dependent on the ubiquitous overhead projector. I managed to get the Secretariat, kicking Panel Meetings in the and screaming against the intrusion, set up with personal computers (PCs). These machines didn’t need both a boot disk and pre-internet age a file save disk and offered a little more functionality and flexibility. Possessing one of the PCs in my role as Technical Adviser Doug Brown, a SIGTTO Technical Adviser of meant that I was able to start doing a lot 30 years ago, recalls the challenges of setting more than constantly trying to decipher my own handwriting for others to type up! up SIGTTO Panel Meetings in the days before The Perth Panel Meeting went well, the facilitating wonders of IT communications from what I recall, and the technical visit involved about 30 SIGTTO members flying e take slick PowerPoint the Secretariat (at that time comprising a from Perth to Karratha for a technical visit presentations at SIGTTO General Manager, one Technical Adviser to the North West Shelf Project which, at Panel Meetings for granted and two assistants) was working with two that time, was still about six months away W these days but it was massive IBM Displaywriter word processor from start-up. The technical visit included > not always the case. Thinking back to my machines driven by 8-inch floppy disks days as Technical Adviser in SIGTTO from connected to a golfball printer. Anything early 1989 to end 1991, organising events that was to be printed had to be written with the tools then at hand presented long hand, typed up by Adele Ball or challenges, and there was always a story Jackie White, printed, amended, reprinted behind each Panel Meeting that was held. (if necessary) and finally approved. This My first Panel Meeting was in Perth, was a laborious process and all meeting Western Australia in February 1989. documents were printed and posted out Fortunately, almost all the arrangements to our destination or hand-carried in had been made over the months before the case of any last minute changes. I joined the Secretariat, a time when Secretariat presentations, which communications consisted mainly of telex, were usually delivered at that time by fax and traditional ‘snail’ mail (although Robin Gray, the then General Manager, even that seemed fairly fast in those days). comprised a set of marker pens, clear Smit Lamnalco provides first class, reliable, safe and efficient marine services for any LNG operational acetate sheeting and an overhead projector, Dark age technology as we did not have the means to print to environment. No matter how remote or complex the operation, we are dedicated to exceeding expectations. When I arrived at the SIGTTO offices in acetate sheets. Our guest speakers were Discover the possibilities at smitlamnalco.com Staple Hall off Houndsditch in London, usually a bit more organised, with their An IBM Displaywriter in all its glory SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 45 area of the Lotte Hotel was crawling with security guards as the then President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi, was also staying in the hotel and about to leave. Outside, there were two coaches for us to visit the terminal in – and police all over the place. I checked that all our members were on board the coaches before setting off and, to my surprise, so did the police! We had a police motorcycle escort through the streets of Seoul until we hit the expressway, at which point a couple of police cars took over to escort us to our destination. Needless to say, we scythed our way through the traffic. I assume that some of the constabulary may have stayed behind to help the Kenyan President! My final two Panels In February 1991 we were in the final stages The Sir Christopher Wren-designed Windsor Guildhall of preparation for a SIGTTO Panel Meeting in Damman at the kind invitation of Saudi Aramco. However, an escalation of tensions > a tour of the LNG facilities and a trip I didn’t have a ticket. Either my ticket had between Iran and Iraq caused a last-minute out from the King Bay supply base on a gone to someone else or we were one short change of plans and we held the Panel tug to see the LNG berth from the water. in the overall headcount. Nevertheless, Meeting close to London’s Heathrow Airport The highlight (?) of the trip was a night in those days of rather laxer airport at a hotel on the banks of the River Thames. in the Karratha International Hotel – still security, I managed to get on the flight What I do remember about that going strong today, just 30 years older! (with a ticket) along with everyone else. get-together was commuting about four My next Panel Meeting, scheduled Things were going OK (or so it seemed) miles between my home and the hotel for Edinburgh, is not one that I am until we got on a bus in Coatzacoalcos by boat and taking some members out proud of. I had strongly suggested that and our suitcases were put on the back on the river to get a view of Runnymede, someone from the Secretariat should of a truck that headed off in a completely famous as the place where King John visit the appointed hotel to go through different direction. Amazingly, when we signed the Magna Carta in the year 1215. all the arrangements and make sure arrived at the hotel later that day, via a The Panel dinner was held in Windsor everything was OK - but I was told it was PEMEX private flight from Coatzacoalcos Guildhall, an interesting cantilevered not necessary. Sadly, things were not OK to Veracruz, all our bags were waiting structure completed by Sir Christopher on several fronts, and matters were made for us in our assigned rooms. Wren in around 1690. The interior has worse by the fire alarm going off several That first nightEMEX P had arranged full-sized and, in some cases, full-length times on one of the nights we were there. a reception in the centre of Veracruz. portraits of every English king and queen, Jet-lagged SIGTTO members, especially There, in the town square, was a stage, from Queen Elizabeth I to our current the Japanese contingent, really did not some entertainment and then we were all Queen – a most imposing venue. appreciate standing outside in the street welcomed by the mayor who presented My last Panel Meeting was in Kaoshiung at 2:00 AM on a chilly night, half-dressed, everyone with a scroll pronouncing them in Taiwan in September 1991. All that I awaiting clearance to return to their rooms. “distinguished visitors to Veracruz”. really remember about that occasion was Fortunately, the technical visit to Braefoot The following night, after the Panel a visit to the Yung An LNG terminal, being Bay went off without a hitch, and I even Meeting, the late Dr Martin Böckenhauer toasted on my departure from SIGTTO managed to arrange a round of golf at of Germanischer Lloyd presented our at the evening dinner by every member Gleneagles for the Japanese members host with a small box containing a present (not to mention a recollection of the which was some sort of compensation. piece of the Berlin Wall. When a piece sore head afterwards!) and being dropped of paper blew out of the presentation at the wrong terminal at Kaoshiung Down Mexico way box as the gift was being handed over, airport. As result of the latter error I Next up, we were off to Veracruz in Mexico. I made a lunge for it but unfortunately had to sprint about half a mile carrying All members were to meet at a hotel at ended up fully dressed, full length in a heavy suitcase in order to catch my Mexico City airport and we would then the hotel pool, soaking not only myself flight home, which was then boarding. fly down to Veracruz, visit the PEMEX but several members standing nearby. SIGTTO Panel Meetings have grown facilities at Coatzacoalcos and then return The rest got wet from tears of laughter in size, quality and stature since that to Veracruz for the Panel Meeting. Our as an extremely bedraggled Technical time and are far more professionally commercial flight to Coatzacoalcos was Adviser hauled himself from the pool! run. However, during those early days at 6:40 AM and I had to shepherd the SIGTTO’s Seoul Panel Meeting in we always tried to give the impression members across to the terminal (with September 1990 was hosted by Korea Gas of a swan serenely floating on the water, luggage) and get them onto the flight. Corp (Kogas) and the technical visit was to despite the fact that we were paddling like At 6:30 all were checked in and heading the Pyeong Taek LNG receiving terminal. fury behind the scenes to ensure all went to the gate but at that moment I realised that On the morning of the visit the reception well … and it usually did … in the end.

46 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication AP_M&O-SIGTTO-A4-0619:AP_M&O-SIGTTO-A4-0619 24/06/19 15:36 Page1

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Japan’s worsening air pollution during Japan, LNG and the 1960s. In certain weather conditions the combination of vehicle emissions and other atmospheric pollution resulted in SIGTTO have deep, smog that reduced visibility. Also, there was a tendency for pollutants to accumulate, especially at intersections in low-lying areas. intertwined roots While pressure on Japanese industries to introduce measures to reduce air Ryoichi Shirato* of TEPCO describes how LNG was pollution-was growing, it was apparent that a fundamental solution was not going to be introduced to Japan 50 years ago as well as his company’s easily found while the country was wholly close links with SIGTTO since the Society’s inception reliant on coal and oil as energy sources. It was at this point that Tokyo Gas Co Ltd, irst of all, congratulations to large quantities of coal caused major Japan’s biggest gas supplier, was considering SIGTTO on its 40th anniversary atmospheric pollution problems and implementing a plan to liquefy natural and all that the Society has jeopardised the health of many living gas produced at Kenai in Alaska, and to F achieved so far. TEPCO and its in the country’s population centres. transport the LNG in dedicated tankers to new JERA joint venture partnership, as Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Japan. Tokyo Gas realised that the project companies placing top priority on safety, launched a number of initiatives with the would need to process substantially large welcomed the formation of SIGTTO as a aim of tackling this problem. In addition volumes to make it economically viable, global initiative focused on this same cause to work on the development of DeNOx and considering the costs inherent in liquefying and have been proactively engaged in the DeSOx technologies, the company had been the gas, transporting the LNG to Japan in management of the Society ever since. seeking to procure fuels with a reduced specialised gas carriers, and regasifying The energy industry has changed sulphur content and to test the combustion the cargoes on arrival. Because Tokyo’s city significantly over the past 40 years, a of methanol in its thermal power plants. gas demand was still relatively limited at period which can be considered as the At the time, however, DeNOx and DeSOx that time, Tokyo Gas discussed with TEPCO “dawn of LNG”. As a TEPCO executive, I technologies were in the preliminary stages the option of using some of the imported have witnessed the conversion of thermal of development and early results were LNG as a thermal power plant fuel. power plant fuel from coal and oil to not particularly promising. Electrostatic Although utilising large volumes of LNG. In reminiscing about this energy precipitators, for example, barely improved LNG for the purpose of power generation transition, I would like to thank SIGTTO a plant’s environmental performance. was internationally criticised 50 years for its support in the development When it came to obtaining fuel with a ago as lacking in commonsense, the of a safety-first LNG industry. reduced sulphur content, the procurement managements of Tokyo Gas and TEPCO of 1.2 million kilolitres per annum of jointly decided to press ahead with the Environmental concerns Minas crude oil, enough to fuel the 1.05 Alaskan LNG project. The total contracted Japan underwent excessively rapid GW Oi thermal power station, was the best LNG import quantity for the two companies industrialisation in the latter half that TEPCO could do in the short term. was 960,000 tonnes per annum. of 1960s, a time when coal was the The rapid rise in the number of vehicles The project enabled okyoT Gas to primary source of fuel. The burning of on the country’s roads contributed to increase the calorific value of the gas

48 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication delivered to its customers, due to the inherently different properties of town and natural gas, while the use of LNG by TEPCO enabled the company to utilise a much cleaner fuel in its power plants. A structure to receive and introduce LNG was in place as TEPCO’s Minami Yokohama thermal power plant, situated adjacent to the Tokyo Gas Negishi LNG Polar Alaska, which delivered Japan’s first LNG cargo 50 import terminal, had successfully tested years ago, finished her working life in 2014 as SCF Polar methanol combustion in the recent past. Thus, on 4 November 1969 Japan received its first-ever LNG cargo, delivered from by TEPCO to ensure the safety of its are waking up to the benefits offered by Alaska by the 71,500 m3 Polar Alaska. LNG-related equipment, systems and natural gas. The expanding use of LNG operations are its “behaviour experiments” in developing countries will help further More gas-fired power plants relating to the sea surface diffusion of globalise LNG transport and consumption. Following the introduction of LNG as fuel, LNG and the installation of water screen The increasing omplexityc of handling the Minami Yokohama thermal power plant equipment in LNG storage tanks. growing volumes of LNG via diversifying began to build an excellent track record in supply chains will demand the utilisation reducing air pollution levels. Thereafter, TEPCO and SIGTTO of new technologies such as artificial TEPCO proactively promoted an increased Due to its safety-first policy TEPCO intelligence (AI) and the internet of utilisation of LNG through the construction has been recognised as a company things (IoT). SIGTTO needs to foresee of a new 1 GW-class, gas-fired plant; the that “performs activities vital for the impact of such developments, not conversion of existing oil-burning units into safety measures in the LNG industry”. least in the areas of design, construction, LNG-based thermal units; and the adoption Since 1981 the company’s five vice equipment and operational safety. of gas turbine combined-cycle units in the presidents have consecutively served Increasing concerns about climate drive for enhanced thermal efficiency. as vice presidents of SIGTTO. change and global warming today are Today, 50 years after the introduction During the tenures of these TEPCO also driving the demand for renewable of LNG to our country, more than 70 per vice presidents, SIGTTO has considered energy, and Japan is following in the cent of the thermal power plants operated and examined numerous notable safety footsteps of Europe and the US in by TEPCO in Japan utilise LNG as fuel. advances in liquefied gas equipment and promoting the use of renewables. TEPCO has also developed technologies operations, leading to the development of that enable the ‘cold’ energy inherent relevant industry best practice guidelines. JERA and SIGTTO in unison in liquefied natural gas to be utilised Amongst the many topics that have In this rapidly changing world TEPCO as a power source in its own right. come under review over the period are the established JERA in tandem with Chubu TEPCO, like all firms handling large safety of LNG ship-to-ship (STS) transfers Electric Power Co Ltd in April 2019. JERA volumes of LNG, is sensitive to the public and, more recently, regular, in-depth will not only undertake the consumption perception of such cargoes arriving in discussions with the US Coast Guard of LNG in its power plants but also engage Japan as ‘frozen fire’ and is unstinting (USCG) as that country’s exports of LNG in the wider natural gas value chain, in its commitment to safe operations. and LPG have begun to climb dramatically. including LNG transport and trading. Amongst the measures implemented It is worth mentioning that over the The importance of LNG is set to rise in past 40 years of expansion in liquefied the years ahead as the product has a key, gas shipping and terminal activities, complementary role to play alongside the there have been no notable releases of increasing use of renewables in future cargo from an LNG carrier and no known energy policies worldwide. As a result cargo releases resulting in a fatality. This SIGTTO’s role will remain undiminished exemplary safety record bears testimony for at least another 40 years, and JERA is to the work of SIGTTO over the past four looking forward to accompanying SIGTTO decades in the wide-ranging dissemination on that journey and advancing together. of industry best practice guidelines. Although I was also involved with coal as power plant fuel for a long time Ryoichi Shirato while with TEPCO, the use of coal is now * Ryoichi Shirato spent 44 years with facing strengthening social headwinds TEPCO, from 1962 to 2005. He was for environmental reasons. I now feel managing director of the company strongly that LNG has enhanced its leading from 1998 to 2000 and executive position amongst the fossil fuels for not vice president from 2000 until 2005. only environmental reasons but also Ryoichi Shirato was SIGTTO Senior because of the high safety levels inherent Vice President from 2001 to 2005 in the LNG supply chain. SIGTTO has and president of Japan’s Central contributed greatly to this achievement. Research Institute for the Electric While LNG import volumes in several Power Industry from 2005 to 2009. The Alaska/Japan contract – Asia’s first- developed countries have reached a fairly ever LNG sales and purchase agreement mature stage, many developing countries

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 49 assistant was Adele Ball, while Ellen Timpson (née Booty) and Wendy Parker (née Brighton) in support roles were also part of the strong and wonderful, albeit small, Secretariat team. During my time, Maurice – a true gentleman, scholar and strong advocate of gas ship and terminal safety – was replaced as General Manager by Robin Gray. Robin possessed the same characteristics as Maurice and was the instigator of a number of in-depth SIGTTO studies, including those on Type C tank filling limits and an understanding of hydrate formation. My immediate successors as Technical Advisers were Doug Brown of BP and Roy Izatt of Shell. This underground LPG storage cavern During my SIGTTO tenure, the Society in the US is similar to the facility moved its headquarters from Staple utilised by Calor Gas at Immingham Hall, off New Street near Liverpool Street station in the City of London to nearby St Helen’s Place. My bedsit accommodation at the time was only a short walk away, at the lower end of the newly erected Heavy-lifting – concrete jungle known as the Barbican. Although it was conveniently located, the apartment block possessed no sense of getting the Society’s community. Most of the residents remained strangers. For months I genuinely thought my next door neighbour – who I rarely saw – may have been a ‘belle-de-nuit’, as foundations in place she was young, very attractive and worked strange hours that changed frequently. Talk Robin Buncombe, only SIGTTO’s second- about jumping to conclusions. I met her quite by chance in the local pub and hinted ever Technical Adviser, looks back to at my suspicions – at which point she burst those early days when it was important into laughter, saying “How presumptuous! to get the correct foundation stones in I work next door at the Covent Garden vegetable market in Spitalfields!” place for a long-serving industry association Advancing risk minimisation joined what was then Shell Tankers SIGTTO initiation Following my SIGTTO tenure and after UK (STUK) in 1965 as a marine Between 1983 and 1986 I was seconded I left Shell, I became a safety consultant engineer apprentice. I went to sea from Shell to SIGTTO to replace Dick to the hazardous cargo transport I to see the world - and what did I do, Oldham as the Society’s sole Technical and terminal industries until being I saw the sea from tankers. I rose through Adviser and to assist the then first headhunted by Calor Gas in 1991. I served the ranks during my 13 years with the General Manager, Maurice Holdsworth. with that company for 10 years as chief UK Merchant Navy, reaching the position In the role I was also responsible for engineer marine terminals at Felixstowe, of chief engineer. Then, in 1979, I was developing technical publications, project Immingham and Canvey Island. requested by Shell International Marine engineering and training videos with The three UK facilities stored LPG to develop, initiate and implement a associated documentation; organising and the Immingham terminal had a brand new appraisal system for liquefied SIGTTO Panel Meetings, gatherings of the particularly notable feature. Calor Gas petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural General Purposes Committee (GPC) and Ltd jointly owned two vast, underground gas (LNG) and chemical tankers. seminars; and attending events in the caverns at the site, one for storing propane A great deal of international travel Gastech series of conferences on behalf and the other for butane. The caverns, ensued, enabling me to inspect and audit of the Society’s worldwide membership. mined in chalk 180 metres underground, more than 600 owned or third-party gas Importantly, we represented member can each store up to 60,000 tonnes of and chemical carriers. I also collated interests as a non-governmental LPG, and are designed to ensure that other worldwide ship inspection data organisation (NGO) at the UN International peak winter demand for LPG can be gathered by the safety officers of other Maritime Organization (IMO), and in met. The gas is contained as a liquid in hazardous cargo organisations and relations with other industry associations the caverns by the hydrostatic pressure assisted in undertaking marine terminal such as the Oil Companies International of water in the surrounding chalk. audits. Following this work, in 1982, Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the In the early 1980s SIGTTO organised I acted as a build and commissioning International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). a Panel Meeting on Humberside for cargo engineer on LPG carriers. Maurice Holdsworth’s personal its members during which attendees

50 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication were invited to view the Immingham 13 companies were engaged in the LNG An Update on the Activities of the Society terminal’s underground tunnels via a sector, it was decided early on that any of International Gas Tanker and Terminals metre-wide ‘lift’, a daunting jaunt to say revised and improved safety regime Operators Ltd. Dr Martin Böckenhauer, the least; see the innermost workings of should also cover the seaborne transport, a strong supporter of SIGTTO, delivered the comparatively new Humber Bridge; storage and handling of LPG. Thus, another keynote paper entitled The Filling and participate in very interesting and SIGTTO was established in 1979. Limitations of Cargo Tanks: A Review of extremely relevant discussions regarding In the early to mid-1980s, during my the IMO Gas Carrier Code Requirements. the import, storage and export of LPG. secondment to SIGTTO, the Society’s Also amongst the number of great After my orkw for Calor Gas, but members and staff, along with personnel friends of the Society present at that before retirement at the end of 2014, I from related industry bodies with particular Gastech event was Roger Ffooks, became a part of a resilience multi-agency similar concerns, made significant who chaired Session 4 of the conference emergency planning officer (EPO) for progress in (a) investigating the issues on Transportation, Technology and county local authorities, working closely that underpinned the safe handling Operations. It is pleasing to note that the with emergency services, public utility of liquefied gases and (b) developing Gastech series of meetings is now in its companies and governmental bodies under practicable operational measures and 47th year and going stronger than ever. the banner of the Suffolk Resilience Forum. equipment standards that helped minimise SIGTTO has made an immeasurable Throughout ym working, and into associated risks. Although the work contribution to the development of a my ‘civilian’, life, a primary focus for was challenging, it was also enjoyable, safe and healthy environment for gas me has been the area of risk mitigation, informative and, occasionally, amusing. ship and terminal operations over the safety management and emergency As the editor of the original Liquefied past 40 years. Since its creation, the planning. A feature of this discipline Gas Handling Principles on Ships and Society has increased its membership is an understanding of the possible in Terminals publication, I still have a and enhanced its breadth in tandem behaviour of others in various scenarios signed version of the limited numbered with the strong growth of the industry. and the likely resultant outcomes. edition! During my time at sea I had Although much has changed in terms The three C’s – cooperation, acquired some basic computing skills of technological advances in the 25 years coordination and communication – on a device called a Sinclair ZX80 and so since my secondment, not least in desktop are essential across life and necessary for the editing job I ‘borrowed’ one of the computers, the principles remain the for a complete understanding of risk. original Apple Mac machines and tried to same. SIGTTO’s modus operandi, namely Adherence to these three goals has stood convince Maurice and Adele of the merits the provision of relevant and up-to- me in good stead over the years. It was, of a personal computer system. “No need,” date industry best practice guidelines and remains, my guiding philosophy, and they both said, “We already have a fax, and the organisation of a busy schedule my time with SIGTTO proved invaluable telex and IBM golf-ball typewriters!” of meetings worldwide to enable the in embedding these principles. In November 1984 I had the pleasure cross-fertilisation of ideas amongst of attending the Gastech conference and members, regulatory bodies and like- SIGTTO origins exhibition, held at the RAI Convention minded associations, merits emulation Back in 1978 there was a growing Centre in Amsterdam. At the event Maurice by all those responsible for upholding the perception amongst the general public Holdsworth presented a paper entitled highest standards in industrial safety. that operations onboard gas carriers and at liquefied gas terminals were high-risk activities. A number of major explosion and pollution accidents involving large oil tankers had made the newspaper front pages and there was a growing belief that the seaborne trade in liquefied gases, still at a relatively early stage of development, posed even greater risks than crude oil. This was the time when 13 major companies involved in the transport and handling of liquefied gases launched an international, cooperative effort to identify existing industry safety and technical standards. They also set themselves the target of determining whether or not there were any potential shortcomings in the existing safety regime and, if deemed necessary, how improvements should be initiated for the benefit of the industry, and society, worldwide. It was decided that there was indeed a need to form an industry association to coordinate the preparation and dissemination of industry best practice guidelines amongst all participants. The 1984 meeting was the second of four Gastech events that have Although the majority of the original been held at the RAI Congress Centre in Amsterdam

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 51 A selection of photos from the Society’s past

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1. A SIGTTO technical visit to the Enterprise Hydrocarbons Terminal in Houston, the world’s busiest LPG export facility 2. SIGTTO General Manager Andrew Clifton attended the formal opening of the enlarged Panama Canal locks on 26 June 2016 3. Technical Adviser Roger Roue helped coordinate the efforts of the various working groups charged with revising the IGC Code; pictured back row, centre, Roger is joined by a number of colleagues engaged on the project 4. The South American Regional Forum of September 2016, held in Buenos Aires, holds the record for the highest attendance at a SIGTTO Regional Forum, with 110 participating; some of those delegates are shown here at the event’s technical visit 5. Alan Witherby (left) and Iain Macneil seal the deal as Witherbys and Seamanship join publishing house forces in 2008

52 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication bringing together members to discuss operational safety matters. Terminal operators around the world offered to host these meetings to which all members, whether vessel or terminal operators, could bring their concerns, problems and experiences to the attention of their fellow industry participants. In this way we were all kept informed of the challenges facing the industry and given practical help and suggestions as to how best to meet these challenges. Papers were written by the SIGTTO Technical Advisers and these were circulated to all the membership. Many A quartet of SIGTTO General Managers, pictured at the 25th were, and continue to be, offered freely to anniversary reception in 2004 – Bruce Keer is second left; the others are, the industry. I believe this modus operandi from left to right, James MacHardy, Alain Vaudolon and Robin Gray helped to increase awareness and safety throughout the industry. Our industry’s very low level of incidents provides not only an exemplary safety record but also Transitioning to a proof of the efficacy of the approach. In the five years that I was General Manager, the Secretariat itself had to flexible gas ship fleet cope with some challenging situations, as Dick Chadburn’s descriptions of Bruce Keer, SIGTTO’s third General Manager, looks back Provisional IRA bomb attacks in London a generation, to a time when the Society was making in a separate article testify (see page 42). Although our offices suffered damages preparations for more flexible, multi-terminal LNG trading in two bombing incidents during our tenures, we kept operating nevertheless, s the third General ships and the terminals in operation albeit in three different office locations. Manager in SIGTTO, I had around the world. As a key aim of the a hard act to follow. Robin exercise was to facilitate the ability of Booming gas carrier trades A Gray, the second General ship operators to load and discharge their The size of the gas shipping industry has Manager, had an enormous technical vessels at more than one port, the data- increased enormously over the years. In understanding of the gas shipping gathering exercise encompassed logging 1997, as my tenure as General Manager industry through his experience with ship mooring and berthing arrangements ended, there were 103 LNG carriers in gas ship design and construction. I, for all LNG carriers and terminals. service, transporting about 82 million on the other hand, had spent 40 years At that time most LNG carriers tended tonnes of LNG between 43 export and in the oil tanker business with BP. to be dedicated to certain routes, shuttling import terminals worldwide. Another In my latter years with the energy between appointed loading and discharge 24 LNG ships were on order. The LPG major I did get more and more involved terminals. However, as the industry carrier fleet numbered 906 vessels, with with gas shipping, most notably through expanded, it seemed obvious to me that an additional 54 on order, engaged the Abu Dhabi’s Das Island and Western LNG carriers would need to be more in the carriage of butane, propane, Australia’s North West Shelf (NWS) flexible and have the availability to operate ammonia and petrochemical gases. The LNG export projects. I also managed on a variety of different routes. As part of SIGTTO membership stood at nearly BP Shipping’s gas unit. With the NWS that early SIGTTO project Peter Denly did 100 companies and organisations. In project I spent three years seconded many of the calculations that were required comparison, during the same year an to BP Australia during which time the to determine mooring line stresses. oil tanker fleet of some 3,200 vessels arrangements for operating the shipping Japan has been the leading importer transported nearly 2,000 million tonnes arm of the scheme were agreed between of LNG throughout the history of of crude oil and refined products. the six companies involved – BP, Shell, SIGTTO. Japanese ship and terminal While the trade in crude oil and Woodside, Chevron, Mitsui and Mitsubishi. operators were quick to establish oil products has increased by only 50 I retired from BP in 1991 and took up rules and practices governing the safe per cent over the last 20 years, LNG the SIGTTO position on the retirement of operation of LNG carriers, in particular movements have increased by 400 per Robin Gray. I was lucky to have the services their safe passage to and from receiving cent. The more rapid growth of the gas of two excellent Technical Advisers - Dick facilities in Tokyo Bay and other parts shipping fleet will continue in the years Chadburn and Doug Brown - and an of the country. SIGTTO was involved in ahead, with LNG’s good fortunes being equally excellent secretary, Mrs Adele Ball. promulgating these industry best-practice supported by strong growth in the LPG guidelines throughout its membership and ethane carrier sectors. The pioneering Logging LNG ships and terminals of gas ship and terminal operators. work we did 25 years ago, to gear up My first major job at the Society was The Society had established sub- for more flexible gas carrier operations to document all the details of the LNG committees with the intention of worldwide, is paying dividends.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 53

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to four-stroke diesel-electric systems Industry watchdog and to two-stroke low-speed engines - The use of LNG as fuel to power not only LNG carriers but all coach par excellence manner of other ship types - The long-distance transportation of ethane as a petrochemical feedstock, and also the Steffen Jacobsen, a former SIGTTO use of ethane as a propulsion system fuel President about to become President once - The rapid expansion of the very large gas carrier (VLGC) fleet to carry the surging again, extols the virtues of the Society’s volumes of US LPG becoming available for communal spirit, inherent knowledge export as a result of the shale gas revolution - The major advances being made banks and symbiotic relationship with OCIMF with LNG carrier containment systems, not least through their he gas transportation industry International Code of Safety for Ships using improved insulation capabilities has undergone a huge expansion Gases or other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF - The increasing technical complexity over the last 40 years, from being Code), two cornerstone IMO documents. of operating modern cargo-handling a small niche industry to what equipment and systems T Quickening pace of change it is today - the key pipeline for ensuring the flow of clean energy across the world. I have been involved with SIGTTO The gas shipping industry has managed the Establishing the credentials of the global gas since 2007 and in the 12 intervening risks associated with the rapid technological shipping sector, with its exemplary safety years alone the industry has advances of the past 12 years as effectively record, has been achieved by developing, changed in leaps and bounds. Recent as it did in earlier times of less frenetic swiftly and prudently, the best-practice developments include the following: change. This has been achieved without measures deemed necessary under the any major incident involving a loss of guidance of a strong industry body. - The rapid growth of LNG transport cargo, thus ensuring a continuation of Over the past four decades SIGTTO has volumes, both globally and in lot sizes our sector’s notable safety record. The fact been quick to identify emerging new gas - The spread of the floating storage and that gas ship cargoes can be flammable shipping and terminal safety challenges regasification unit (FSRU) concept and/or toxic and give rise to structural and risks and then to provide industry with - The establishment of safe LNG damage and personal injury due to their the appropriate best-practice guidance to transport in extreme environments, cryogenic carriage temperatures adds meet the challenges and mitigate the risks. as exemplified by the Yamal LNG weight to the need for an unstinting, This capability is best illustrated by the project in the Russian High Arctic professional approach by all design, Society’s leading role in the development - The evolution of gas-fired LNG carrier operational and managerial staff involved of the recently revised International propulsion systems, highlighted by the in the gas carrier and terminal sectors. Gas Carrier (IGC) Code and the new rapid transition from steam turbines Of course, it would be inappropriate

56 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication to lavish all the praise for this exemplary And, while LNG may be the most popular of gas shipping’s ongoing safety record. performance on SIGTTO alone. the gas fuels, the use of other gases such as Although gas carrier operations Nevertheless, it is fair to say that the ethane, propane, hydrogen and anhydrous represent by far the safest part of Society has contributed greatly to the ammonia to propel ships will also increase. commercial shipping today, we cannot rest safety record, not least by creating an on our laurels. Gas shipping is currently environment where industry experts can Oil tanker commonalities undergoing a period of expansion that gather to discuss in depth any relevant I have also had the pleasure to be an is greater than ever before, and new safety issues and best-practice guidance. active participant over many years in participants are joining the gas shipping The organisation has a proven capability the activities of another major NGO club every day. Rapid fleet expansion in identifying issues where industry-wide involved in bulk energy shipping – the Oil combined with the increasing complexity guidelines, rules and best practices need to Companies International Marine Forum of gas ships and their equipment are be developed and adopted without delay. (OCIMF). While OCIMF member fleets placing unprecedented emphasis on the My involvement with the gas may be predominantly comprised of oil need for competent and skilled seafarers. transportation industry began in 1983, tankers, gas ships still figure prominently The gas shipping industry as a whole at which time the nascent Society had amongst the membership. With a foot in has an obligation to ensure that a proper already begun to develop and make both camps, I must say that OCIMF and ‘talent pipeline’ is built and maintained. available its portfolio of industry best- SIGTTO complement each other well. This will enable the industry, as it copes practice guidelines. I joined the SIGTTO While the complexities of gas with this high-growth scenario, to have Board of Directors in 2007 as a Maersk transport eclipse those of oil transport in access to the human resources needed for representative, and became President of several respects, there is an undoubted the continued evolution of a safe, accident- the Society in 2012. I had to resign from commonality amongst the membership free fleet. Technological advances have and this position in 2013 due to changes in my of the two NGOs in areas such as ship will continue to support requirements for employment, but I rejoined the SIGTTO inspections, management systems, ship and shore employees conversant in Board in 2016 after becoming CEO of navigation and mooring. Both gas and everything from thermodynamics to control Evergas. I am pleased to report that I have oil tanker operators have benefited from automation and information technology. recently been appointed the Society’s the adoption of several common tools In taking a snapshot of the activities of President once again and will commence developed by OCIMF, including the Ship SIGTTO’s Human Element and the General service in that role as of November 2019. Inspection Report (SIRE) programme, the Purposes Committees, it is difficult to take My company, Evergas, is an active Tanker Management and Self-Assessment onboard the full range of important issues member of SIGTTO, with representation (TMSA) scheme and the Mooring that are currently being dealt with. Without in both its General Purposes and Human System Management Plans (MSMPs). the voluntary work done by the members of Element Committees. We operate a fleet So, this inter-NGO cooperation enables these Committees, and the various Working of new ethane carriers which is mostly SIGTTO to generate guidelines, controls Groups they engender, SIGTTO would involved in shipping ethane transatlantic, and tools specific to the gas shipping and not be able to perform the way it does. from the US to Northern Europe. Evergas terminal sectors as well as to rely on OCIMF SIGTTO’s communal approach, as was the industry’s first operator to run the publications that cover operational matters exemplified by the dedication of these four-stroke engines on its ships on boil- of concern to both gas and oil tankers. The membership teams and the open sharing of off ethane gas for propulsion purposes. combined coverage of these two NGOs knowledge, experience and best practices, During my earlier tenure as SIGTTO is staggering; it is no surprise that safety can only be saluted. At the end of the day, President, in 2012-2013, interest in improvements achieved by the oil tanker this voluntary work reinforces the greater using LNG as marine fuel had begun to sector since the grounding of Exxon Valdez good of the industry and continues to be a take hold across a number of different in 1989 have been every bit as notable as prime illustration of the spirit of SIGTTO. sectors of commercial shipping. We felt that the workload associated with all the different queries and requests coming in to the SIGTTO Secretariat was becoming disproportionate to our primary focus on gas ship and terminal operations. Following wide-ranging discussion at Board level, it was agreed that a separate non-governmental organisation (NGO) should be formed to take on responsibility for matters relating to gas-powered ships that are not gas carriers. That was how the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) came to be established. Today SGMF is a successful NGO with a significant membership. I am confident that with the introduction of the IMO 2020 global sulphur cap, mandating the use of ship fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5 per cent, or equivalent, on 1 January 2020, we will begin to see an even larger Operated by Evergas, the 27,500 m3 ethane carrier Ineos Intrepid switch to LNG as marine fuel over time. is also able to utilise ethane as a propulsion system fuel

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Implementation of shipping standards, codes and regulations [email protected] www.nsml.com + (234) 803-905-5000 www.mcoe.com.ng [email protected] +234(0)8039054776 Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals. SIGTTO ‘window to To have your publications actively used and referred to during shipboard operations is, for me, the best outcome that an industry body that produces technical the world’ also has gas and operational recommendations and guidelines can achieve. As SIGTTO’s publisher, my key focus is to help safeguard shipping roots that position and continue to ensure they are practically used onboard the Iain Macneil, chief executive of world’s LPG and LNG carrier fleets. Witherbys, SIGTTO’s publisher, traces Book title advice a gas shipping career that has evolved I’ve worked with three SIGTTO General Managers over the last 15 years and, if I in tandem with the industry’s NGO was to consider the advice to give a new incoming General Manager, it would be first encountered SIGTTO in the Witherbys has published all four editions to try and avoid SIGTTO book titles that 1980s as a cadet onboard LPG of Liquefied Gas Handling Principles begin with the word ‘Recommendations’ carriers operated by Bibby Line of or ‘Guidelines’. In 2008 there were I Liverpool. At the time I participated seven SIGTTO titles that began with in LPG cargo grade changes and the ‘Recommendations’ or ‘Guidelines’, Society’s Liquefied Gas Handling Principles but we are down to a more manageable (LGHP) was used in the planning of the four today. There are alternative ways cargo grade change operations on all our of getting the message across! vessels and referred to throughout. Gas carriers have gone through more That early introduction to the SIGTTO change and innovation than any other brand was further emphasised by the sector of the tanker industry over the advice of shipmates who counselled last 40 years. With the pace of advances me when it came time to do my gas in floating technologies, regasification, endorsement. They said I should do it in gas cargo containment arrangements, Edinburgh at The Centre for Advanced new propulsion systems, small-scale Maritime Studies, as the people at that shipments, the use of LNG as marine training establishment worked closely fuel and the increasing interest in with SIGTTO in the compilation of the hydrogen as an energy source, there is very first edition of LGHP, published in every indication that the next 40 years 1986. When it comes to recommendations, are going to be fairly busy for SIGTTO! and your shipmates point to a course SIGTTO provides excellent networking that supports the industry standard opportunities among shipping’s LNG publication for gas shipping, you can’t and LPG industry professionals and, with get a more honest testimonial than that. with six letter abbreviations and over two Society General Purpose and Human When the time came for me to do my the years I’ve seen SIGITO and SIGGITO Element Committee meetings and ten gas endorsement, I followed their advice so many times that I’ve lost count! Regional Forums per annum, it ensures and achieved the desired end-result. My work with SIGTTO increased in every opportunity for engagement amongst 2006 when I co-chaired the SIGTTO a growing membership worldwide. The spelling is S-I-G-T-T-O LPG Competency Standards working Importantly, under the current leadership After coming ashore and starting group alongside two long-time SIGTTO of Andrew Clifton as General Manager, Seamanship International as a publishing stalwarts and good friends: Chris Clucas it fosters an atmosphere of inclusion venture, we increasingly found ourselves of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement and welcome at all events, enabling all working with SIGTTO and Witherbys, (BSM) and George Perantsakis of Naftomar. members to fully relax and participate. another maritime publisher, during the The following year was dominated With SIGTTO’s spacious new London mid-2000s. The first words to me of the by our final preparations for taking over office, an agreed future strategy for the then SIGTTO General Manager, James Witherbys and moving all operations to Society and active participation at IMO, MacHardy, were “When we go to events and Edinburgh. My lasting memory of that time combined with the Society’s established exhibitions, make sure the organisers spell was our staff, and I am sparing the blushes links to the many industry bodies and SIGTTO’s name correctly”. Sure enough, of Kat Heathcote – my better half - here non-governmental organisations (NGOs), at the next event, which was Gastech by that generic reference to staff, getting SIGTTO is best positioned to represent 2005 in Bilbao, and we participated the names SIGTTO and ISGOTT terribly the needs of the liquefied gas shipping in our first joint venture exhibition mixed up. Maybe it was not that surprising, and terminal industry going forward. display with Witherbys and SIGTTO, we considering how often they encountered With 40 years of publishing for arrived at the exhibition hall to set up a both of these two important and similar SIGTTO and supporting them at events stand that proudly displayed the name tanker shipping industry acronyms in the behind us, Witherbys looks forward ‘SIGGITO’!!! I’ve since learned that the course of their day-today work. ISGOTT, by to this next phase for the Society male brain apparently does not cope well the way, stands for the International Safety and their Golden Jubilee in 2029.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 59 amongst the general public that LNG operations are inherently unsafe due to the flammability of natural gas and the ‘explosiveness’ of the cargo. The general public tends to see LNG carriers as ‘floating threats’ due to a lack of understanding about both the physics of the cargo and the nature of actual cargo-handling operations. It is incumbent on our industry to maintain our exemplary safety record to ensure that there are no grounds for this misguided public perception. Although the global LNG trade is Delivered by Samsung opening up to spot and commodity in 2009, the 266,000 m3 trading, there is still a significant part Mekaines was the second Q-max of it carried out under dedicated long- LNG carrier to come under the term arrangements. These long-running technical management of Nakilat contracts promote familiarity and help to enhance safety and efficiency. Terminals, too, have a key role to play in promoting the image of a safe industry to a wider audience, including their local Insights from one of communities. Terminal owners also need to be able to demonstrate to regulatory agencies that their facilities are operating SIGTTO’s longest in a manner consistent with the rules and practices developed by the industry. This robust regulatory/best practice serving Board members regime has been established by IMO and industry associations such as SIGTTO and the Oil Companies International Eng Abdullah Fadhalah Al-Sulaiti, Nakilat’s Marine Forum (OCIMF). These agencies CEO, has long personal experience of can be justifiably proud of their the merits of the Society’s approach to accomplishments and should not be hesitant in coming forward to promote ensuring safe liquefied gas operations the merits of their work. For example, I think a higher profile for SIGTTO in the n my capacity as Chief Executive held various senior positions, including energy community would be helpful. Officer (CEO) of Nakilat, I manage technical superintendent, manager Environmental performance is another the diverse shipping and maritime of the ship acquisition team and current focal point for the maritime sector. I business portfolio of what is the shipping manager. In addition, I have Owners and operators of gas carriers world’s largest LNG shipping company. been a board member of Gulf Drilling should be encouraged to demonstrate Besides vessel ownership and management, International Ltd QSC since April 2018. what they have accomplished and what our diverse operations include ship repair The maritime gas transport industry, they are continuing to do to improve the and offshore fabrication, shipbuilding, particularly LNG, has been top of the league environment in terms of reductions in towage, shipping agency and logistics in terms of safe, efficient and environment- fuel consumption, carbon footprint and services. I also serve as the Chairman for friendly operations for 55 years, since the noise levels. The gathering of big data two Nakilat joint ventures, i.e. Nakilat- first commercial LNG cargo was delivered and its application in an effective way in Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM) and in 1964. This has been achieved through shipping operations have a role to play. Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ). strict attention to detail, dedication to LNG carrier technology has advanced I earned my degree in marine safety, high standards of vessel design and rapidly over the past 15 years, as engineering from Southampton Maritime rigorous, targeted training programmes highlighted by the evolution from 2004’s College in the UK and my shipping and for relevant ship and shore staff. The 145,000 m3 steam turbine-powered vessels maritime industry career spans more rapid development of liquefied gas carrier to today’s popular choice of 174,000 m3 than 20 years, during which time I have and cargo-handling technologies over ships propelled by slow-speed dual-fuel gained experience in all aspects of the the past 15 years has accelerated the (SSD) engines. The latest vessels provide commercial, operational and technical acquisition of the necessary skill sets and customers with a very competitive unit management of LNG carriers. I started added to the steepness of the learning freight cost for their LNG transport. The out with Qatargas Operating Company curve for all participants in the sector. technical advances have effectively created in 1997, and the highlight of my career to a three-tier LNG carrier market, i.e. vessels date was when I was tasked to oversee the Shipowner obligations powered by steam, tri-fuel diesel-electric construction of the 45 Q-flex and Q-max One aspect of LNG shipping that sets it (TFDE) and SSD propulsion systems. LNG carriers ordered by the State of Qatar. apart from other maritime sectors is public My Nakilat team and I closely follow During my tenure with Qatargas, I perception. There is an underlying belief all LNGC technological developments

60 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication and, although we don’t expect the pace charterers need to go beyond what is me with an insight into what a great and of technological advance of the past written in the charter party in the drive valuable resource the association and its 15 years to be maintained, we have to establish ties that become stronger membership are for meeting the specialist identified reliquefaction and other support and more cooperative with time. needs of our particular maritime sector. machinery as areas for future focus. Human error will always be the Other Nakilat participation in the Society’s In addition, as LNG gets more leading culprit for accidents but the proceedings, including at meetings of the commoditised, we expect the small-scale scope for problems can only increase General Purposes Committee and various LNG sector to grow due to the increasing if the complexity of the systems makes working groups, has reinforced our belief use of gas as fuel for ships and power plants. it difficult for seafarers to respond in the effectiveness of SIGTTO as the key At the same time employment of floating effectively. Training programmes need to conduit for safe and efficient gas shipping. storage and regasification units (FSRUs) as a be continuously refined and upgraded, The Society produces the essential flexible import terminal option has opened including to be able to take advantage of operating guidelines that have played new markets for LNG producers. Nakilat modern training tools, and SIGTTO has a a significant part in achievement of the has also targeted FSRUs and small-scale key role to play in this respect. SIGTTO is industry’s excellent safety record over LNG as sectors for strategic development. well positioned to study these challenging the years. It also provides a platform issues through its working groups and by for the gas shipping and terminal sector Challenges ahead making use of consultants where necessary stakeholders to gain and exchange Due to an increase in the global demand to develop guidelines that benefit the ideas on industry best practices. The for natural gas, the LNG carrier fleet is membership and the industry as a whole. contacts that Nakilat has made with all expanding rapidly, in tandem with the the key players in the industry through growth in vessel size and the advances Personal congratulations the Society’s busy schedule of meetings in ship technology. I find that gas I would like to conclude by extending each year have proved invaluable. shipping is currently not investing in Nakilat’s congratulations to SIGTTO In addition to the participation new recruits and the attendant training on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. in significant forums on topics of and career development programmes Nakilat is proud to have been an active mutual interest, Nakilat, like all other to the extent needed to match the Society member for over a decade and I members, also gains substantial benefits fast-developing industry’s needs. The personally am honoured to be one of the from its SIGTTO affiliation through danger is that manpower shortfalls longest-serving member of the Society’s the provision of technical advice and could result in the dilution of skills and Board, having held the position since exclusive access to the latest policies and competencies across the industry. my appointment at the 2007 Board and information impacting the industry. The career pathway from cadet to Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Houston. These membership benefits ear of major senior officer requires well over 10 years Over the past 12 years I have had the importance to Nakilat’s business, given that to complete, a relatively long time that a privilege of hosting two Society events we are the world’s leading transporter of fast-growing industry simply does not have. in Qatar. Both SIGTTO’s Middle East LNG. We salute SIGTTO for its achievements Seafarers are also faced with increasingly Regional Forum in April 2014 and, more on the occasion of its 40th anniversary sophisticated shipboard equipment recently, the 2018 Autumn SIGTTO and look forward to further close liaison and systems and an overdependence on Board and AGM were held in Doha. with the Society going forward in the digital tools. A great deal of data is now My close involvement with the Society ongoing commitment to safe operations being sent from the ship to owner and at Board level over this time has provided by a growing gas shipping industry. equipment manufacturer offices ashore in near real-time. There is a risk with such arrangements that crews may feel one step removed from involvement in vessel operations. This, in turn, may negatively impact shipboard management of response measures when something goes wrong. In overall terms independent shipowners have done a very good job in showing they are able to live up to the high standards demanded by the industry. In the past this good performance was underpinned by the fact that there were relatively few owners specialising in gas shipping and the commitment of such owners to safe operations and close links with charterers was total. New players are now entering the liquefied gas sector, however, and face steep learning curves to get up to speed. There is much to be learned from the experiences and systems of established gas industry players. Owners need to be increasingly responsive to the needs of charterers. The global LNG training regime that has been developed, with the assistance Relationships built between owners and of SIGTTO, is impressive but industry must continue to build upon it

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 61 At that time the Enron co-owned power station in Puerto Rico, Eco-Electrica, received its commissioning LNG cargo onboard the 87,600 m3 Hoegh Galleon, another spherical tank ship. While attending the discharge operation with the Enron team, I met Joe McKechnie who represented the cargo suppliers. I then embarked on a steep and rewarding LNG learning curve through quarterly shipyard trips to Japan; attendences at SIGTTO Panel Meetings; visits to the Eco-Electrica and Dabhol terminals; meetings with former My Energy Bridge regas vessel seafarers with extensive LNG experience; presentation at the SIGTTO Panel sitting in on charter party meetings Meeting in Monaco in 2003 was made for a second vessel; and interacting two years before Excelsior discharged with shipowners’ technical teams. her landmark Gulf Gateway cargo Onto the ‘Energy Bridge’ Before and during the demise of Enron, Wayne Perry had been running their Dabhol marine group. However, before SIGTTO guides LNG Enron’s final collapse he had moved to El Paso and their ‘Energy Bridge’ regasification vessel project. Bob Lakey was already voyage of discovery onboard as a project consultant and Alan Nierenberg was the primary naval architect. Wayne advised that El Paso was seeking Although Tony Galt did not become additional staff, experienced in tank vessel involved with gas shipping until operations, because the Energy Bridge team’s primary focus up until that time relatively late in his career, in the last had been on the project’s commercial two decades he has been SIGTTO viability. I joined El Paso and was appointed their representative at SIGTTO. representative for four leading companies Sadly, Bob Lakey retired shortly thereafter but working with Al Nierenburg ollowing a corporate divestment carrier. He was seeking someone for port and the technical teams from the shipowner of the Houston Ship Channel operations and indicated that the specifics Exmar, the selected shipyard and APL, oil refinery at which I was of the cargo would be handled by those the supplier of the Energy Bridge’s F the traffic superintendent, experienced in LNG. Soon afterwards submerged turret buoy, was another responsible for operations at the ship I was offered a position at Enron. unique experience. Thrown in at the deep and barge docks, the new ownership Within a few days I was called into end, I made a presentation on the Energy reduced the refinery staff across all meetings with shipping companies bidding Bridge regasification vessel concept at the departments. I was one of the casualties, to transport LNG to Dabhol. There I met Bob SIGTTO Panel Meeting in Monaco in 2003. looking for a new job at the age of 50. Lakey, a consultant to Enron, who advised Although the project was short-lived me that the company should join SIGTTO. under El Paso ownership, it was an idea Enron entry point Enron joined and soon the Society’s new whose time had come. Sold to the Kaiser In networking for a new position, a manager member package of publications was Corporation and renamed Excelerate, from a former employer connected me with received in my office. I was amazed at the El Paso concept has since become one of his trading counter-parties. This the library. And I am still amazed at the popular within the industry as a means connection developed into an interview list of SIGTTO publications and their of facilitating LNG imports. Now referred with the project manager of Enron’s depths of detail. With Bob as a consultant to as floating storage and regasification Dabhol project in India. Through earlier and myself an employee, I was made the units (FSRUs) and operated by a number industry articles concerning Dabhol, I company’s representative at SIGTTO. of owners, regasification vessels comprise knew that the power station’s fuel was to After numerous shipping company a significant and growing fleet. transition from naphtha to LNG. Thus, in bidders’ meetings, a charter was signed researching LNG before the interview, I for a new LNG carrier, a 135,000 m3 Caribbean connections came across SIGTTO and hustled out to Moss Rosenberg spherical tank vessel Within a couple of weeks of the purchase Liquefied Gas Handling Principles to be built in Japan. The newbuilding establishment of Excelerate, I received on Ships and in Terminals (Second Edition). order was followed by quarterly a call from Joe McKechnie at Tractebel, At the interview I advised the project planning meetings and construction the former name of what was to become manager, Rick Bergsieker, that I had inspections by Lakey, with me in tow GDF Suez and, eventually, ENGIE. sailed on tankers but never an LNG asking questions and taking notes. Tractebel needed a marine operations

62 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication person in their Houston office and I pipeline proposed earlier and to establish intended role as LNG receiving facilities. accepted the job. Once again, I became a a floating LNG receiving terminal off Although Freeport LNG received a company’s representative at SIGTTO. Florida’s east coast to deliver gas to the shipment near the end of its first year The company had a stake in the Atlantic southern part of the state. Despite all the in operation, this commissioning cargo LNG terminal in Trinidad and supplied work carried out to prove the viability was required solely for the warranty the Eco-Electrica terminal in Puerto Rico of the project, Florida’s governor denied performance of the regasification and from that location. As a consequence I made the Federal Deepwater Port permit that gas export systems. Shortly thereafter, numerous trips to both islands for marine was required to establish the FSRU. thanks to the availability of storage audits and inspections. Additionally, the GDF Suez also commenced work on the tank space, one customer concluded company’s project development teams Neptune project at about the same time. an agreement with FLNG to import, were working on possible LNG receiving The scheme called for the establishment store and, when market conditions terminals on the west coast of Mexico of an FSRU-based deepwater port off improved, reload the cargo for sale. The and at Freeport in the Bahamas. I was the coast of Massachusetts near Boston ability of an import terminal to reload appointed the marine operations person to enable the delivery of natural gas to cargoes had required a complete liquid for the teams and SIGTTO’s Site Selection the New England market in the volumes flow process review and modifications/ & Design (IP No 14) for LNG Ports & necessary to supplement the cargoes additions to the required systems, Jetties became my bible for this work. already arriving at the company’s long- together with necessary documentation, At one point I was required to attend the established shoreside Boston LNG terminal. to facilitate bi-directional cargo flow. 138,000 m3 Berge Boston in Trinidad. On a By 2014 the expiration of FLNG’s ballast passage returning to Trinidad, the Another Freeport project permit to widen the existing federal ship’s gas alarm system indicated gas in the Acclimatised as I was to the temperatures channel into Port Freeport was on the inter-barrier space of the No 1 cargo tank pertaining in the southern US states, the horizon. A wider channel was deemed in which the ‘heel’ was being carried. After prospect of winters in Boston working on necessary to accommodate the passage transfer of the heel to another tank, No 1 the Neptune project was not appealing. of Q-max size LNG carriers to the was gas-freed and then completely blanked Fortunately for me, at that time, in 2009, terminal. The FLNG marine operations off and disconnected from all cargo and Freeport LNG (FLNG), operator of an manager thus also became, at a stroke, gas systems to permit entry into the tank. LNG receiving terminal in Freeport the channel-widening project manager. An inspection revealed about two Texas, was seeking a marine operations A somewhat hidden aspect of the dozen small holes in the primary manager. By taking up the post I was project was the need to relocate the channel membrane barrier caused by a broken able to keep close to my adopted home. leading marks to the new centreline bracket which had fallen from the pipe In my new position I once again became of the widened channel. The existing tower to the bottom of the tank. As the company’s representative at SIGTTO. channel and the port’s breakwater/jetty the charterer’s representative, I stayed Like so many other US LNG receiving arrangements were such that widening on the ship together with repair teams terminals, the construction of the FLNG could be performed only on one side of the from the shipowner and Gaztransport & facility was approved when the country channel. Relocating the US Coast Guard’s Technigaz, the designer of the ship’s NO was believed to be “running out of natural navaids properly, erected on another 96 membrane tank containment system. gas” and in imminent need of burgeoning terminal’s land, was an interesting process. My involvement with the Bahamas LNG imports. As it turned out, the newly By the time that the channel-widening Freeport receiving terminal project arose built terminals were being commissioned was underway, FLNG had initiated the because GDF Suez had acquired from just as the means of realising the potential planning and permitting procedures Enron the remnants of the work done of country’s vast shale gas resources required for the construction of liquefaction on the proposed facility. The new plan were being implemented. Overnight, the trains and a new role for the facility as an was to truncate the Freeport/Florida gas terminals became redundant in their LNG export terminal. The planned LNG production from three trains necessitated an expansion of the facility’s dock basin to fit a second dock. After a number of iterations of the basin and dock layout were discussed with the US Coast Guard and the port’s pilots, construction work began. From becoming an LNG rookie rather late in my career, at the age of 50, through to retirement 20 years later, SIGTTO has been a constant companion and an irreplaceable resource to me. This late phase of my working life has never been less than exciting and I consider it a rare privilege to have had the chance to work with some of the most well-respected figures in the LNG marine world. Prominent amongst these are the Society’s current General Manager and his two predecessors, its Technical Advisers and the individuals who have A channel widening project has been required to ready the Freeport chaired the Society’s General Purposes LNG facility in Texas for its role as a major LNG export terminal Committee (GPC) over the past two decades.

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Applying lessons learned from Northwest Swan as well as industry guidance from Chevron builds on SIGTTO, Chevron managed the improved design, construction and operation of two LNG fleets supporting multiple projects throughout Australia and Angola. SIGTTO industry To meet additional organisational capabilities required for our growing LNG fleets, Chevron trained existing platform crews from our crude and product tanker fleets. In 2014 Chevron opened an LNGC officer training centre to deliver LNGC Mark Ross, president of Chevron Shipping training courses that enhance competency Co and a former SIGTTO President, expectations defined by SIGTTO’s guidance. The courses are the industry explains how the Society’s portfolio of standard for LNGC officer training, and industry best practice guidelines facilitated Chevron currently has over 250 officers serving on board our LNG ships. the build-up of an LNGC fleet by his company Today, Chevron’s controlled fleet of LNG ships transport enough energy to t gives me great pleasure in the worldwide LNG fleet was approaching heat approximately 10 million homes each congratulating the Society of Gas 200 ships and 15 countries were importing year. Chevron will continue to develop Tanker and Terminal Operators LNG. These seemed like big numbers at and deliver the energy that improves I (SIGTTO) on celebrating 40 years the time, but they pale in comparison with lives and powers the world forward. as the global authority for gas shipping an LNG fleet that will soon number 600 and gas terminal operations. Throughout ships delivering cargoes to 40 different Looking ahead its existence SIGTTO has built a well- countries. SIGTTO played a significant role Global LNG demand is expected to respected industry platform to establish in achieving this tremendous growth by double by 2035, and LPG demand is and promote high standards and foster helping to maintain our enviable reputation expected to significantly increase as well. mutually beneficial relationships between as a safe and responsible industry. Together this means the energy industry industry and regulatory agencies. will require talented individuals for the My involvement with SIGTTO began in Building a gas business safe and reliable transportation of gas. 2003 when I was appointed to its Board of My company, Chevron, has been a proud Chevron remains well-positioned to Directors. I had the honour of serving as member of SIGTTO since the early days train qualified mariners to meet these the Society’s President, beginning in 2005, of the Society. Chevron’s LNG journey future demands and will continue to and during my tenure I was privileged to began in the late 1980s, as a founding work with SIGTTO to build a powerful work with two extremely qualified and participant in the North West Shelf legacy for future generations of gas knowledgeable General Managers, James Venture, Australia’s first and largest shipping and gas terminal operators. MacHardy and Bill Wayne. They were LNG project. In 2004 Chevron drew For the past 40 years SIGTTO has supported by a dedicated Secretariat, which from its significant oil and LPG tanker played a fundamental role in helping included the current SIGTTO General experience to operate its first LNG carrier, grow capabilities and push frontiers Manager, Andrew Clifton, who was then the 138,000 m3 Northwest Swan. while upholding safety standards. working as a SIGTTO Technical Adviser. As Chevron’s global gas portfolio grew so Here’s to another 40 years of driving When I took over as SIGTTO President, did our company’s need for LNG shipping. improvements in the global gas industry.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 65 In the 1980s in Abu Dhabi we worked on a project to re-manifold some of the fleet’s original 125,000 3m LNG vessels. Spurred by an earlier incident, the project involved switching from two 20-inch to four 16-inch liquid lines and introducing 60-mesh conical strainers. Other features of the work were the first introduction of the optical fibre transmission system (OFTS) umbilical for emergency shutdown (ESD) and other ship/shore interface links such as mooring tension monitoring. The project, my first exposure to the design and development aspects of all Mubaraz, shown here in warmer climes, was delivered by KMY in these new LNG ship/shore interface January 1996 and her winter sea trials required an icebreaker escort technologies, was both stimulating and challenging at the same time. Unprecedented technological advances Career logbook There has been an inexorable growth in the cargo-carrying capacity of ‘conventional- size’ LNG carriers over the years, from the abounds with gas 25,000 m3 ships in the 1960s, to those of 125,000 m3 in the 1970s, 137,000 m3 in Samir Bailouni, Nakilat Shipping’s the 1990s, 155,000 m3 in the 2000s and the 180,000 m3 ships of today. Although COO, looks back on four decades of Qatar’s 216,000 m3 Q-flex ships and experience with gas carriers and three 266,000 m3 Q-max vessels, built during the 2000s to realise economy of scale decades of involvement with SIGTTO benefits for Qatari exports, were a special case, they have also supported the trend started my seagoing career onboard Unflagging safety commitment of increasing vessel size with time. tankers and gas carriers in the 1970s If there is one thing the LNG shipping The trend is continuing. More and more and, after serving in those sectors industry can pride itself on above all others, terminals are gearing up to accommodate I until the mid-1980s, I decided to it is the impeccable safety track record LNG carriers of up to 230,000 m3, which move to a shore-based position. I joined that has been achieved. The exemplary is referred today as the ‘NeoPanamax’ the shipping department of Abu Dhabi performance of the fleet over the years has size, for trading flexibility. The membrane Gas Liquefaction Co Ltd (ADGAS) in 1987, not been attained by chance but, rather, cargo containment system has been chosen and in my role as a marine engineering by a dedication to safety and a keenness to for the majority of modern, large-size superintendent for the company I managed succeed on the part of all involved in the LNG carriers for a variety of reasons, five chartered LNG carriers and supervised sector. A commitment to specialised skills including an efficient ship dimensions- operations at the open-sea gas export training and the establishment of high to-cargo capacity ratio, shipbuilding terminal on Das Island. In 1993 I moved levels of management expertise from the license arrangements, lower air draft and to National Gas Shipping Co (NGSCO), outset helped ensure there have been no more advantageous Suez Canal tariffs. Abu Dhabi’s newly established LNG and LNG disaster stories to whip up public fear. The traditional steam turbine NGL LPG shipping company, as two new LNG My very first shipping involvement was carrier propulsion system, with its carrier construction programmes were with crude oil tankers, another sector where ability to handle cargo boil-off gas in a launched. The programmes, in Japan and safety is afforded great attention. However, straightforward manner, is losing favour Finland, featured eight ships of 137,500 m3. when I came to LNG shipping operations on fuel efficiency grounds. There have After a 21-year involvement with Abu and the interfacing with terminals, I was been rapid developments with gas-burning Dhabi LNG, I left my post as NGSCO’s blown away by the attention to detail and LNG carrier propulsion systems over the fleet general manager and moved to the extent to which the safety commitment past 15 years, with the introduction of Qatar, where I joined Nakilat as fleet was carried. Cargo-handling operations were dual-fuel diesel-electric (DFDE) systems, director. Qatar’s drive to establish itself characterised by a rigorous adherence to enhanced steam turbines and, more as the world’s largest LNG exporter and careful preplanning, established procedures recently, low-speed, two-stroke engines. its full-on approach to building an LNG and smooth communications between The dual-fuel, low-speed, two-stroke carrier fleet attracted me at a time I was all parties in the supply chain. The cause engines now available, most notably MAN looking to take on a new challenge. The of safety was further boosted by the high Diesel & Turbo’s M-type, electronically impending introduction of the impressive levels of standardisation attained with ship/ controlled, gas-injection (ME-GI) units Q-max and Q-flex LNG vessels and the shore interface equipment, arrangements and Winterthur Gas & Diesel’s Generation development of Nakilat into a fully fledged and systems and, in those early days, X Dual-Fuel (X-DF) offering, have shipping company helped support my the use of LNG carriers on dedicated achieved new levels of fuel efficiency. In choice of Qatar as a career move. projects, serving specific terminals. combination with either full or partial

66 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication cargo reliquefaction systems, these two- at the meetings. It was the case then and were there were no such vessels under stroke engines have shown themselves still is today that members are encouraged construction! Today, there are over 540 to be clear leaders amongst gas-burning to share their experience of incidents, even LNG carriers in service and it has become propulsion system options available today. if anonymously on a non-attributable basis, challenging to remember even the names When deciding on the propulsion for the benefit of the industry in general. of all the vessels within your own fleet. system for Qatar’s newbuilding contingent SIGTTO has consistently brought This rapid xpansione comes with of 45 Q-flex and Q-max ships in the together the key players of the gas ship and many serious challenges. One is the 2000s, oil was relatively cheap and oil- terminal community to share knowledge possibility of our achievements to date burning, low-speed engines, in tandem and address the issues common to what breeding a sense of complacency that with powerful cargo reliquefaction plants is still a relatively young industry. This could jeopardise industry’s impeccable to ensure the delivery of optimum LNG was particularly important during the safety record and, as a result, create volumes, were chosen. The nitrogen- early stages as it provided an avenue for worldwide public perception problems. cycle reliquefaction systems fitted on a steep learning curve, and encouraged Another risk is that posed by having what the Q-flex and Q-max LNG carriers the initiation of pertinent studies might be inexperienced or untrained ship over a decade ago, while initially and, ultimately, the development of staff handling LNG on dual-fuel ships challenging, have proved to be very guidelines across a wide range of topical being bunkered. The whole question of effective and advantageous in service. gas industry issues. Some of these early sustaining an adequate pool of properly The era of floating LNG process publications are still the only industry trained seafarers and shore staff at a vessels is upon us, and floating storage reference materials available today. time of rapid fleet growth in both the gas and regasification units (FSRUs) and Today, when I see certain features on carrier and gas-powered ship sectors is floating LNG production (FLNG) vessels LNG vessels, I can still remember the a fraught one. Also, with the increased are good, ready-made solutions under history behind what led to their pioneering number of vessels and terminals of specific requirements and conditions. introduction many years ago and how such various sizes and types, standardisation I see a growing demand for these arrangements are now common practice. I becomes a challenge to the industry. units as the use of gas continues to recall, for example, the winter sea trials of As an organisation addressing gain ground as a universal thermal one of our NGSCO LNG newbuilds from the full scope of gas shipping and energy source in developing countries. Kvaerner-Masa Yards (KMY) in Finland, terminal activities, SIGTTO performs Realising the potential for business definitely a challenging scenario. With a vital role by bringing its global growth, Nakilat signed a landmark an icebreaker cutting through the Baltic membership of key players to bear agreement with Excelerate Energy of Sea ice and leading the way, we tested on carrying out topical studies and Woodland, Texas in 2018 to acquire the new vessel’s fresh water generators developing whatever guidelines are a majority stake in its first FSRU. This in almost fresh water seas and lost the deemed necessary and appropriate. followed the signing of a memorandum condenser vacuum due to perfectly I would encourage SIGTTO, as the gas of understanding (MoU) with Höegh LNG sized herring plugging its thousands of sector continues its expansion, to continue on an FSRU strategic alliance in 2017. tubes. It was fish for dinner that night! this important work and, as part of this As small-scale LNG and LNG bunkering successful approach, to make use of the go hand-in-hand with today’s expanding No resting on laurels lessons learned and advances in LNG LNG supply chain and, with the IMO 2020 The LNG shipping industry has progressed technology by applying them to LPG and sulphur cap on the horizon, I see increased at an unprecedented pace in recent years. ethane shipping. Seaborne movements interest in LNG as a viable marine fuel When I started in this industry in 1987, out of LPG are currently growing as fast as option for all kinds of vessels. It is not of personal interest I used to monitor all 71 those of LNG while ethane is a new gas surprising that we are witnessing a growing existing LNG carriers and there were times carrier trade with a bright future. number of affiliations and collaborations between stakeholders to make LNG available as a ship fuel worldwide. The SIGTTO learning curve I attended my first SIGTTO event in 1987 in the United Arab Emirates, and participated in my first Society meeting as a member of the General Purposes Committee (GPC) in The Netherlands in April 1988. The General Manager on that occasion was Robin Gray, the Society’s second holder of that position. Over the years, Robin has never ceased to amaze me with his broad industry knowledge and rigorous scientific approach. Thirtyears y ago SIGTTO meetings attracted smaller turnouts compared to today’s attendances. At that time I was in my early 30s while those around me were seasoned and experienced maritime The nitrogen-cycle reliquefaction systems fitted on Nakilat’s Q-flex and Q-max professionals. I mostly listened and learned LNG carriers have proved to be effective and advantageous in service

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 67 The 4,000th Brunei LNG cargo was delivered to Japan in a B-class ship in 1999

the Qatargas project I also joined a state delegation to the 57th Session of IMO’s SIGTTO experience Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 57). Again, my experiences of IMO whilst at SIGTTO proved extremely bolsters career path helpful for that task. Qatargas also hosted a SIGTTO Regional Forum in Doha during my tenure, which I helped to coordinate. After describing how his time as a SIGTTO Technical Another position I held recently Adviser benefitted his working life,Chris Snape looks was that of nautical principal technical expert in Shell’s Shipping and Maritime at some challenges facing a fast-expanding industry Technology Department, dealing with LNG terminal assurances and supporting was seconded from Shell to SIGTTO sailing as master. After working through the LNG projects. My days at SIGTTO came in as a Technical Adviser from May requirements for my gas endorsement, I took handy once more, not least through the 2002 to May 2004. Although the over command of one of Shell’s 75,000 m3, B ability to apply guidance from both Society assignment was relatively short, it class LNG tankers in 1999, running between publications, such as LNG Operations I th was packed full of learning and relationship- Brunei and Japan. We carried the 4000 in Port Areas, Liquefied Gas Handling building that have remained with me as project cargo during that trip, so I had a few Principles and Linked ESD Systems, and EN/ my career progressed. An assignment public relations exercises to contend with. ISO standards, the development of many at SIGTTO is a fantastic opportunity for Following that, I came ashore and of which SIGTTO has contributed to. those lucky enough to be selected. have enjoyed a variety of shore-based I am currently Shell’s global maritime Two of the biggest takeaways of my roles with Shell. Many of these have independent assurance manager, in which SIGTTO time were the understanding of involved gas shipping and SIGTTO role I head up our internal programme for (a) how IMO and other industry bodies has been an important strand running audits of Shell businesses and joint ventures all work and (b) how SIGTTO engages its through every part of this work. with maritime risks. I’ve also previously membership and supports the sector. A My first hore-baseds role for Shell was been a lead auditor in the team I now third was the very satisfying experience of an assignment in the ship vetting team, manage. The role is facilitated by calling seeing the fruits of our labours making their and the experience stood me in good on not only first-hand SIGTTO experience way onto the technical bookshelves. I have stead later on when I coordinated the but also the Society’s publications and found that with most jobs it’s the people you development of SIGTTO’s LNG carrier ongoing work. This knowledge pool helps work with that really make the experience vetting publication. I soon found out that me add value to our auditing activities. rewarding. However, a tenure with SIGTTO the cross-fertilisation process works both provides that extra dimension, in that you’re ways and that my SIGTTO time was to Expansion challenge working with great people from many prove invaluable in later Shell projects. While I think that gas carriers, and their different organisations and backgrounds As an example, following my two years at associated terminal operations, continue to from around the world. Time spent at SIGTTO, I was seconded by Shell to Qatargas, be the leading maritime sector when it comes SIGTTO is especially rich and interesting. working firstly in the ship acquisition team to matters of safety, there is a considerable and later in the chartering team. I was element of fragility attached to this position. Industry/SIGTTO able to put my SIGTTO project knowledge Gas will be a key source of fuel in the energy cross-fertilisation to good use for Qatargas when dealing transition to a greater use of renewables I had joined Shell as a seafarer back in with aspects such as pre-qualification in the decades ahead and this means 1989 and was not exposed to gas carriers activities and LNG emergency ship-to-ship continued strong growth for the gas carrier until relatively late on, when I was already (STS) lightering preparedness. As part of fleet and the global network of terminals.

68 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Industry expansion means more SIGTTO’s ongoing role including through a number of activities new entrants and, with the best will in While SIGTTO has made an incredible such as recruitment and selection, the world, these newcomers will not contribution to maritime safety across the onboarding, continued professional possess the same depth of experience as gas shipping spectrum, it is critical that development, career advancement and long-term staff or established gas firms. the Society, like the industry itself, does audit programmes. SIGTTO has a critical The experience and training required to not rest on its laurels. As we move through role to play in the development of suitable achieve the necessary systems and levels the energy transition and the liquefied guidance materials in this area too. of competence takes time. A number of gas shipping and terminal industry The challenges of attracting and retaining recent minor accidents and near-miss continues with its robust growth, the membership also need continued efforts incidents indicate the extent to which our SIGTTO Secretariat, its Board, Committees to make sure our industry brings the industry’s exemplary safety performance and membership must not only continue right resources to bear in meeting such record is at risk. So far, we have been lucky to develop the Society’s portfolio of challenges. Without this focus we risk that the worst-case potential consequences industry standards but also consider the losing not only important influences but have not been realised, but luck is not effective implementation of this regime. also the Society’s reputation and standing the kind of effective barrier we need. I think that we, as an industry, can do as the authoritative voice for the sector Industry newcomers need to be made more to make sure that the Society’s member to other emerging bodies with similar aware of how important the maintenance organisations fully implement the relevant agendas. Finally, close collaboration with of our safety record is to everyone in standards that have been promulgated. other non-governmental bodies (NGOs) the business, new and old. The logic for The introduction of a more robust and related industry bodies on matters of additional investment in technical barriers implementation regime might require a mutual interest is also vital and requires the may not be immediately apparent to new bit of a culture shift, not least in how the right level of resources to remain effective. entrants who have no sector experience Society treats and/or supports member In closing, my relationship with the or who may have a different time horizon companies not living up to industry’s Society goes back even further than my first or a more commercial orientation. accepted standards. There are a number trip on a gas carrier …. back to a time when The current challenging macro-economic of different policing approaches that can I was a cadet at Fleetwood Nautical College environment for the oil and gas sector only be considered, and the Society needs to be in North West England in the early 1980s. serves to increase these pressures. Without able to pass the ‘red-face integrity test’. It was there that I struck up a long-term an adequate appreciation of the risks or I also believe that more needs to be friendship with a certain Andrew Clifton. In consideration of the wider implications for done on stakeholder engagement and 2004 our paths crossed professionally when the liquefied gas sector and society in general, communication of the safety message to all I handed over the SIGTTO Technical Adviser there can be a temptation to flout rules and parts of the gas shipping sector, including role to Andrew, and as part of the transition standards and to dance around compliance new entrants, who have the potential to we were jointly involved in organising the obligations in game-playing fashion. impact our industry’s overall safety record. Society’s San Francisco Panel that year. Meeting this challenge requires sustained I’ve been most impressed with the The new technology factor effort and it is incumbent upon SIGTTO, work Andrew has done at SIGTTO since Another significant factor in today’s gas as part of its ongoing commitment, to keep becoming General Manager in 2012 .He shipping sector is technology. Companies pace with the growth of the sector and has followed in the footsteps of some great are always looking for new ways to get gas make sure that funding and resourcing General Managers and he has delivered. to a rapidly growing market. These include are appropriate to meet the needs. Also knowing several of the current sourcing gas from more challenging The competence of front-line operational Board and General Purposes Committee upstream environments; improvements staff remains a key component for (GPC) members personally, I believe the to existing ship propulsion, containment maintaining the high safety performance Society is in great hands to continue and cargo-handling systems; and delivery standards that have been achieved. the good work and achieve the essential to a widening range of destinations All SIGTTO member companies need measures necessary for the continued and customers, including small-scale to continuously focus on this aspect, and sustainable success of the sector. terminals and gas-fuelled ships. While new technologies are important for the evolution of the industry, the safety integrity of new designs needs to remain aligned to the rigorous approach the sector has always applied. Because a desire to avoid the full cost of introducing innovative ideas can lead to shortcuts, it is imperative that we do not allow the enthusiasm, impetuousness and rush for first-mover advantage that can accompany groundbreaking projects to allow inferior technologies to jeopardise gas shipping’s safety record. That is easier said than done in a global market eager for gas. The setting of standards always lags technology developments. In addition, there can be variances between A group photo of SIGTTO General Managers and Technical Advisers regions and even where standards do exist, taken in 2013; Chris Snape is third from the right in the back row they can be, and often are, disregarded.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 69

coming up with pointed questions that cut to the chase; he leavened his technological Reminiscences of a long- acumen with a full repertoire of jokes and quips as well as a passion for life. serving company secretary I have an abiding memory of my good friend James MacHardy, when he was a Director and before being appointed Bermuda-based Edwin Mortimer is SIGTTO General Manager, during a only SIGTTO’s second-ever company Society meeting in Tokyo. NYK, one of the Japanese members, had made a secretary and has served in that bridge simulator available for attendees role for over three decades wishing to test their skills. Stepping to the console, James almost casually steered his ship into busy harbour waters, avoiding n July 1987 I took over the role of Society forwards as the industry grew ferries, hydrofoils, fishing boats and company secretary of SIGTTO Ltd and coped with new technologies. other marine traffic with the ease of a from my good friend Alan Smith on Notable Presidents included Alf man who could do it in his sleep. Others, I his retirement. He had been involved Clausen, courteous, urbane, immaculate in contrast, found the task much more since the Society’s incorporation in1979. and gregarious, a man who would have difficult and the session was punctuated The gas shipping and terminal sector been at home as a diplomat. Another by alarm bells and on-screen collisions. was an entirely new industry for me to was Mike Jervis, a soft-spoken and My fond memories of characters met become acquainted with. In the early proud Devonian, with a superb ability to are augmented by those of places visited. years of my tenure I was to become make people feel at ease and that their Amongst the standouts are a nighttime familiar with a host of new terminology opinions counted. Mike Laws was another cruise around Tokyo Bay organised by the that was previously completely unknown President who was inclusive and low- Society’s Japanese members and meetings to me, everything from descriptions key but able to bring differing opinions at Hakone in Japan where the mountain used for industrial processes, ships and together, while Blair MacIntyre, with his scenery is breathtaking. Also, as an amateur mechanical parts to a wide range of marine incisive mind and ability to think quickly, painter, I was inspired by my four visits to and engineering industry acronyms. could sum up problematic situations Venice out of season, with mists over the Over the past three decades I have succinctly and clearly. Latterly, and lagoon and the buildings appearing to float had the opportunity to meet many about to start a second term as SIGTTO on air. Other notable locations included outstanding and unforgettable characters President, Steffen Jacobsen is a fast- Perth in Australia, with its views over the that served as SIGTTO General Managers, talking, quick-thinking and articulate Swan River, and the Isle of Man, where we Presidents and Directors. Because the Dane with a nice sense of humour. enjoyed a Board dinner on a steam train. roll call of individuals that have served Of the SIGTTO Directors that stick in I feel privileged to have made the in these positions is too big for a full my mind, Sid Vass, usually accompanied acquaintance of so many interesting review, I’ll limit my vignettes below to a by Mike Jervis, had a very wry sense of member company representatives over few people that stand out in my memory. humour and, like Mike, was most convivial the past 30 years. What is a marvel to me, My introduction to the world of company once the business of the day was considering the continuing expansion LNG and LPG safety was through the done. The irrepressible Salicath Mortensen in member numbers globally and first General Manager with whom I was another Dane with a very dry sense of the inevitable turnover in Presidents, worked, Robin Gray. I regarded Robin as humour, who seemingly always asked the Directors and Secretariat staff with the a quintessential English gentleman, but right, albeit awkward, question at the right passage of time, is that SIGTTO continues one whose quiet passion for industry time to keep the SIGTTO agenda on track. to speak with a single, unified voice on safety seemed to verge on the fanatical. At Warren Bluestein was another expert at behalf of its worldwide membership. that stage SIGTTO was a relatively small industry association with its unassuming premises in Staple Hall in the City of Bermuda – there are worse places for London. Robin was very patient with a company secretary to be based me, as he explained the basics of LNG transport and storage. What the office and Secretariat lacked in size was made up for by Robin’s enthusiasm, commitment and a belief almost approaching religious fervour in the importance of SIGTTO’s industry role in building and maintaining an unparalleled safety record. When I recall the past SIGTTO Presidents, almost all of them had an ability to open up to differing opinions, to be inclusive and to make all the Society’s Board members feel that their opinions counted. At the same time they all possessed an innate ability to lead the

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 71 Reliquefaction challenges Cargo reliquefaction on board LNG carriers, to help optimise delivery volumes, has always been technically feasible. However, such systems consume a considerable amount of electrical power, so the fuel efficiency of diesel generators is needed to make the operation of a reliquefaction plant commercially Ship-to-ship (STS) transfers, long a feature of viable. This is why the few attempts to use LPG operations, are becoming an increasingly cargo reliquefaction on steam-powered common occurrence in the LNG sector LNGCs were not a commercial success. When facing the choice of whether or not to fit a reliquefaction plant, shipowners are in a dilemma. The cost of the plant is quite well known, in terms of both capital The LNG times and operating costs, but the percentage of time for which the plant’s reliquefaction capacity that will actually be required is difficult to predict. If it is assumed that are a-changin’ the ship uses BOG as main propulsion fuel and that most of its time at sea is on Chris Clucas* offers his thoughts on passage rather than waiting for a berth, reliquefaction capacity will be required the most recent stage of gas shipping’s relatively rarely. Another way to approach technology evolution and the role of the problem is to increase the efficiency of the cargo tank insulation system, so there SIGTTO in smoothing the industry’s is less BOG to handle in the first place. assimilation of technological advances Expanding supply chains espite the popular view was successful at the time, although the The rapid expansion of the LNG market in that innovation has been a reasons were more commercial than recent years has meant that more traders are central feature of liquefied technical. So, while all other ship types had entering the business, a trend which entails D gas shipping over the abandoned steam by the mid-1980s, steam a different commercial approach. Versatility past 10-15 years, much of this ‘new’ propulsion continued to reign supreme and speed-of-response are the hallmarks technology has actually been tried in in the LNG sector until about 2006. of trading operations, so it is likely that the past! It is just that gas shipping was Today we have gas-burning medium- ships will be adapted with extra features to not quite ready for the introduction speed, four-stroke and slow-speed, two-stroke increase the range of operating options. of these new concepts at the time. machinery in LNG service. Both types of We have already seen this in the LPG propulsion have made great strides over sector, with many large fully refrigerated Propulsion evolution the past 15 years and are now the preferred ships being utilised as floating storage For the first 40 years of LNG shipping steam choice for LNGC newbuildings. The only terminals and retrofitted with cargo turbines were the default propulsion system one of the propulsion systems considered reheaters so they can discharge directly choice. Steam was the logical option at the back in the 1970s that is yet to make any into fully pressurised ships. Although the birth of the LNG industry, when over one- headway is the gas turbine, even though properties of LNG are such that direct half the world’s merchant fleet was steam- this option is also technically feasible. parallels do not apply, the significant powered. However, merchant shipping The LNG shipping industry is now increase in LNG ship-to-ship (STS) switched rapidly to diesel propulsion benefiting from the massive reductions transfer and regasification operations in following the oil price shocks of the 1970s. in fuel consumption offered by the latest recent times indicates how this particular While it was inevitably only a matter of two-stroke, dual-fuel technology, while trade is set to develop in future. time before the LNGC fleet also made the the manufacturers of such engines For the same reasons, as the number switch to internal combustion engines, the are currently developing designs of smaller LNG carriers increases, the transition was delayed by the high degree that are even more fuel-efficient. reduced construction costs will open up of reliability offered by steam turbines and One interesting trend has developed in some coastal and shortsea trades that have difficulties the engine arrangements then Norway. With dual-fuel diesel-electric (DFDE) been uneconomic to date. If the ships available had in handling excess cargo boil- propulsion systems, it is sometimes necessary are designed to be flexible, especially in off gas (BOG) when the ship was at anchor. to operate the medium-speed engines at respect of filling limits, then the possibility When a number of pioneering, low power load. This is not ideal for fuel of a ‘milk run’ type of distribution system experimental LNGCs were built in the consumption, as combustion is less efficient. really starts to open up. There are several 1970s, various propulsion options, all So, some DFDE ships are being provided with LNG trades in particular geographic areas running on BOG, were considered. These battery power storage, a combination which that would suit this type of arrangement, included medium-speed diesels, two- offers the chance to keep the engines running especially in the replacement of old oil stroke diesels and gas turbines. None in the most efficient power band all the time. or coal-burning power stations with

72 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication gas-fired facilities. Floating LNG storage arrangements may be essential to overcome local planning objections and, once again, such a storage option becomes more economical as more vessels are built. The new estrictionsr on the maritime use of high-sulphur fuels, introduced under the auspices of IMO’s Marine Pollution (MARPOL) Convention, will take effect on 1 January 2020. There are many ways to comply, of course, Providing an effective training regime for a rapidly growing but the availability of LNG as a fuel is and advancing LNG sector remains a challenge; SIGTTO’s attracting a great deal of attention and, new Human Element Committee is poised to help meet it most importantly, major investment. As a result, it will soon be possible to obtain bulk LNG fuel supplies in all the Training to the fore significant number of LNG carriers now traditional ship bunkering areas, and at Training has always been a key focus have cargo reliquefaction plants installed. other locations as well. The volume of for both the gas shipping industry and Also, many of the new trades routes are LNG consumed as bunker fuel today is SIGTTO. Following on from the basic gas much longer than earlier voyage patterns, quite modest but, when the large dual- syllabus prepared under the auspices of most notably deliveries from the US Gulf to fuel container and cruise ships currently IMO’s Standards of Training Certification the Far East. While all time spent on board under construction enter service, this and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention, ship is essentially a learning opportunity, in picture will change dramatically. Because SIGTTO developed advanced competency my opinion the control room touch-screen these ship types have a high fuel demand, courses for both LPG and LNG carrier environment and the long periods between the volumes of LNG utilised to power officers, The competency courses are load and discharge operations limit the vessels will increase commensurately. configured to ensure that officers learn real ‘learning opportunities’, especially about operations relevant to them in detail. when everything is going smoothly. SIGTTO membership These courses have been adopted I believe SIGTTO will have to review When I joined Dorchester Maritime in widely, although inevitably a wide the Experience Matrix to take these factors 1990, the company’s parent, the Schulte range of offerings were developed. Some into account. In particular, extra credit Group, was engaged in the management training providers claimed to cover the should be given for simulator training, of a significant number of gas carriers syllabus in one day, which is not possible when a student can go through a range and the possibility of joining SIGTTO was in my experience, while others set out of ‘hands-on’ experiences in a week that soon on the radar. In the event Schulte to teach the same content over two could otherwise take a lifetime at sea. joined the Society in 2002 when the Group weeks, which is excessive. Computer- Shipping company personnel stepped up its involvement in LPGC and based training (CBT) courses are now departments that have to implement LNGC management. In the meantime I available, which overcome many of the the existing Experience Matrix have my had participated in some of the Society’s classroom cost-related challenges. sympathy. Compliance is complicated work, including the preparation of the For the future, one of the main enough to achieve when new companies are LPG Cargo Calculation book, but in discussion areas will surely be ensuring entering the industry and sea staff have a those days input from non-members that the ‘Experience Matrix’ remains fit much greater variety of choice if they wish was never credited. So, it seems I was for purpose. As mentioned, the matrix to work on board these ships. It is, however, some sort of ‘ghost writer’ for a time. is an important, industry-supported encouraging to note that SIGTTO has formed SIGTTO’s ability to develop standards in safety initiative in which SIGTTO sets an a Human Element Committee to focus on a proactive way is the aspect of the Society experience standard for gas carrier senior this key area of the industry moving forward. which I find most satisfactory. SIGTTO’s officers considerably above the STCW SIGTTO takes a truly collegiate approach central General Purposes Committee (GPC) requirements. With the large increase in to safety issues and the great spirit of meets regularly to discuss industry issues LNG carrier numbers in prospect, the cooperation has always impressed me about and GPC gatherings are usually followed content and assumptions behind this the organisation. Although many of the by all-member Panel Meetings where document will surely come under review. companies that sit at the various SIGTTO presentations are made on the latest gas At the moment, the emphasis is on ‘time tables are in deep commercial competition shipping and terminal developments. served’, combined with the mandatory with each other, all that is left outside the Many GPC decisions and Panel talks STCW training and the recommended door. Inside SIGTTO, the common good have led directly to the establishment SIGTTO Advanced Competency course. of the industry is the key focus, and that of SIGTTO working group to tackle However, the underlying assumptions are is good for everyone in the long run. topical issues and prepare appropriate that ships are much the same and voyages industry best practice guidelines. are similar. As a result of the changes in * Chris Clucas has contributed two It has been my privilege to chair trade patterns and advances in technology articles to this issue. The other article, both SIGTTO Panel Meetings and GPC outlined above, these assumptions are on page 101, covers his working life gatherings over a number of years. becoming increasingly incorrect. and amusing SIGTTO experiences. Any The work initiated and completed For example, gas-burning supply opinions expressed by the author are by GPC is what makes SIGTTO so pressures for propulsion units now range personal and do not necessarily represent relevant to the work of the industry. from 1 Bar(g) to over 300 Bar(g) while a those of his previous employers.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 73 Completed in 2006, the 145,000 m3 Simaisma was the third newbuilding to join the 40-vessel Maran Gas LNG carrier fleet

GasLog extended its LNG shipping capability to include vessel ownership Greece and LNG in 2007 when it acquired a stake in the 145,000 m3 Methane Nile Eagle. Since then GasLog has built a substantial fleet of owned LNG carriers. – a brief history John Angelicoussis established Maran Gas Maritime Inc (MGM) in 2003 and Richard Gilmore*, currently Chair of became the first Greek shipping company to own LNG vessels when it signed a SIGTTO’s Panel Meetings, considers the newbuilding contract with Daewoo rapid emergence of Greek shipowners Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in autumn that year. The ship, the as major players in the LNG sector 145,000 m3 Maran Gas Asclepius, entered service in 2005 under charter to Gaz de ythia was the high priestess of Greece and LNG shipping France and later RasGas. From this modest the Oracle of Delphi, the entity Greece has been involved with ships beginning, Maran Gas has steadily built consulted about important since at least 7250 BC when Greeks from its LNG fleet to more than 40 vessels. P decisions throughout the ancient the mainland set out in boats made of More Greek shipping companies classical world and credited with being papyrus for the island of Milos. From have since followed the country’s two established in the 8th century BC. It is this humble beginning the country has LNG pioneers and today there are 11 surmised that Pythia was able to achieve developed a deeply held seafaring tradition Greek shipping companies that have a trance-like state by breathing vapours which has given rise to the modern Greek LNG ships in operation or on order. from a chasm in the rocks beneath her merchant fleet. Today the country’s ships The Greek shipowner community is throne. Many believe these vapours to account for approximately 18 per cent comprised of a mix of privately held and have been methane gas escaping from the of the world’s commercial tonnage. publicly traded companies. As a result of earth which, if true, represents Greece’s In the relatively recent past Greece has this remarkable advance, Greek-owned/ first known connection to methane. expanded the mix of vessels in its merchant controlled LNG vessels in operation and Fast forward to today and Greece is fleet to include LNG ships. The country’s on order represent an investment of an LNG import nation that received its first involvement in the sector dates approximately US$25 billion dollars. first liquefied natural gas cargo in 1999 back to 2001 when Peter Livanos’ Ceres/ In terms of ship numbers Greek vessels at the Revithoussa terminal located GasLog LNG Services was awarded a ship now account for 21 per cent of the global about 45 km west of Athens. In late 2018 management contract from BG to operate LNG fleet of 660 vessels in operation and the terminal’s capacity was expanded two LNG carriers. BG had purchased the on order. Furthermore, the commitment with the commissioning of a third LNG pair - the 71,500 m3 Arctic Tokyo and Polar is building. Greek shipowners hold stakes tank, a unit that boosted the facility’s Alaska - from Marathon Oil and renamed in more than 40 per cent of the LNG total storage capacity to 225,000 m3. them Methane Arctic and Methane Polar. vessels currently under construction.

74 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication This LNG orderbook now stands at professionalism and technical proficiency China Merchants, as they formed their approximately 120 vessels, including large in the development of their LNG shipping LNG shipping company, CS LNG, with BP. conventional LNG carriers and floating capabilities. They have demonstrated an I joined MGM in Athens in 2004, just storage and regasification units (FSRUs). ability to adapt to the technical changes as the company was ordering its first Greek involvement in LNG shipping in LNG vessel design and operations LNG ships, and assisted in placing them has developed in tandem with the rapid while maintaining the high standards on charters with Gaz de France and evolution in LNG carrier design over the of safety and reliability that have been RasGas. This role also brought me back past 15 years. Technological advances the hallmarks of LNG shipping since into contact with SIGTTO when, in 2006, have resulted in improved LNG cargo its inception over 50 years ago. I joined the GPC on behalf of MGM. tank designs and reduced cargo boil-off SIGTTO has helped these new Greek I have seen the industry go from gas (BOG) rates as well as fundamental entrants, welcoming their membership its early days when you could literally changes in the choice of propulsion and providing a platform from which the name all the LNG ships in operation, to systems. In drive for improved propulsive companies can gain information on the today where it is difficult keeping track efficiency the steam turbines traditionally technical and operating best practices of all the LNG shipping companies, let used on these ships are now out of favour that meet world standards. Those working alone the 500 or so ships in operation. and have been replaced by tri-fuel diesel in Greek shipping are determined to be Joining MGM has given me the chance electric (TFDE) systems and, more recently, long-term participants in the ongoing to participate in the entry of Greek shipping slow-speed dual-fuel diesel technology development of the LNG industry. into the LNG market as well as in its strong, using either low or high-pressure fuel ongoing development in the sector. This has injection. As the ships have become SIGTTO reflections been extremely exciting, working with my more efficient, LNG reliquefaction plants I have been fortunate to participate in Greek colleagues in both building up MGM have been installed on the vessels. three LNG shipping start-up projects and participating in the rapid evolution In addition, there are LNG vessels in the over my career. The first was with Energy of LNG ship design. Involvement with the Greek fleet that are ice strengthened as well Transportation Corporation (ETC), a technologies that have led to lower cargo as ships with full icebreaking capabilities founding member of SIGTTO. The second BOG rates, much greater cargo-carrying such as the Arc 7 ice class vessels owned and SIGTTO President was Joe Cuneo, who was capacities, improvements in hull design operated by Dynagas and utilised with the also president of ETC and the man who and propulsion systems of much-improved Yamal LNG project in the Russian Arctic. offered me the job with the company. efficiencies has brought me into contact Greek shipowners have taken different I joined ETC while it was building eight with virtually every aspect of modern approaches when entering the LNG spherical tank LNG carriers at the General LNG vessel design. I’m proud to say that industry. Some have done so directly, Dynamics yard in Quincy, Massachusetts. MGM has stayed at the forefront of these extending their experience in oil or LPG At that time I worked for Ed Tornay, ETC’s advances during the past 15 years. shipping into LNG shipping. Others have vice president of engineering, and was It has been a pleasure representing MGM utilised the services of established LNG assigned to the shipyard site team. Ed at SIGTTO’s GPC meetings and adding our ship managers such as the Bernard Schulte was the first person to chair SIGTTO’s voice to the ongoing good work that the Group and Hyundai Merchant Marine. General Purposes Committee (GPC). He Society performs in upholding the safety Some companies, such as the held that position for over 10 years, as standards of our industry and representing Angelicoussis Group’s MGM, have liquefied gas shipping progressed from the liquefied gas industry at IMO. established their own in-house its early pioneering days to become It is great to see SIGTTO continue to training facilities in Greece. Others a stable, safe and reliable worldwide lead in the areas of safety and sharing have utilised the services of third party industry with a growing presence. of best practices in the guidance notes it training establishments available in Later at ETC, I worked as a consultant to publishes. The GPC continues to be relevant Greece, the UK and elsewhere. the Guangdong LNG project, China’s first to the changing industry as it develops All the Greek companies to LNG import scheme. In that role I helped new guidance papers on ship propulsion, date have exhibited a high level of the Chinese shareholders, COSCO and reliquefaction on LNG vessels and floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). MGM’s status as an active Society member extends beyond my GPC participation to involvement with a number of the Committee’s working groups over the years. Indeed, we have worked or are working on papers addressing the new enlarged Panama Canal locks, surge pressures, emergency shutdown (ESD) systems, manifold arrangements, floating LNG, propulsion systems and reliquefaction plants. MGM has benefited from the relationships we have at SIGTTO and look to give back to the Society in the years ahead through our continued participation.

Boris Vilkitsky is one of five 172,000 3m icebreaking LNG carriers * Richard Gilmore is director gas operated by Dynagas in the service of the Yamal LNG project fleet at Maran Gas Maritime Inc.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 75 We congratulate SIGTTO on its 40th Anniversary In 2006, Excelerate Energy developed and implemented the world’s first commercial STS transfer of LNG to enhance the capabilities of FSRUs. Having completed over 1500 transfers since then, we would like to thank SIGTTO for its support in making STS LNG operations widely accepted in today’s industry, helping provide the efficient delivery of LNG to global markets. From Boston to Bangladesh, we are committed to being a safe and responsible operator within the communities in which we serve.

www.excelerateenergy.com

Safety’s Synergy

It takes a special breed of mariner, guiding And we commission tugs like the 6,770-hp, greater than the sum of its parts. an exceptionally powerful and precise tug- FIFI-1-equipped Judy Moran, which pro- For more information on what Moran can boat, to assist a gas tanker. duces 83.5 metric tons of bollard pull. do for your operations, visit morantug.com. So Moran gears our safety culture accord- In our 46 years of providing gas carrier ingly; we go above and beyond routine experience, Moran has been guided by the training, providing our crews with special- principle that in safe operations, human ized LNG and firefighting training as well. and machine perform as a whole that is at Gastech 2011 in Amsterdam where he SIGTTO and Gastech – was one of our speakers and chaired a session. Unfortunately, on that occasion he was confined to a wheelchair with arm-in-arm in the cause a dodgy leg. Chris Clucas and I would take turns to manoeuvre him around the venue, which was no mean feat as of liquefied gases the RAI Amsterdam centre was roughly the size of Heathrow Terminal 5! Since then Andrew has become more Gavin Sutcliffe, chairman of Gastech’s governing than just a strong supporter and advocate of body, charts the development of a close Gastech. He is now a good friend and one of relationship between SIGTTO and the industry’s our most valued and trusted advisers. This was underlined in 2018 when our governing leading conference and exhibition event body unanimously voted him in as their new technical chairman, replacing a retiring very time I consider my own decades and had, in fact, become a rather Chris Clucas. The Society and Gastech are connections to SIGTTO, I think inseparable, yet delightful, couple! SIGTTO now closer together than ever before. of the Society’s decades-long has keenly supported Gastech since its Andrew has joined us wherever we E support for Gastech and the own establishment, and together we have meet around the world, and he never benefits drawn from this support. No other watched our once-niche industry grow fails to lead with our socialising and association can match SIGTTO in delivering into something truly global and defining. networking activities. However, nothing an industry best practice regime governing By the 1990s liquefied gas transport and indicates Andrew’s Gastech commitment the safe transport, handling and storage of trade had become a significant maritime quite like the paper voting process. This is, liquefied gases and no other association sector, with growing influence worldwide. without doubt, one of the most ominous can match the recognition achieved by the Another generation on and here we stand, and exhausting tasks undertaken by Society as regards the extent to which its exactly 60 years since Methane Pioneer Gastech’s governing body, as it entails guidance has been implemented worldwide. sailed down the Calcasieu Ship Channel voting on over 1,000 presentation While many member-based industry with its first trial LNG cargo for British Gas abstracts received from applicants organisations can appear to exist for the and out into the history books. In 2018 seeking to speak at each conference. purpose of self-promotion, SIGTTO has the global LNG trade topped 300 million Recently, Andrew travelled to a Gastech been fully engaged in meeting the often tonnes per annum (mta), three times the voting meeting in Houston with print-outs challenging needs of its growing portfolio 2000 level, while seaborne LPG movements of the entire collection of 1,200 abstracts of members since its inception. The Society approached 100 mta for the first time. submitted for Gastech 2019. The sheaf has consistently succeeded in harnessing When Bill Wayne stepped down in was a veritable doorstop which probably the knowledge pools of individual 2012 and Andrew Clifton was appointed cost him extra in luggage allowance! members and utilising it for the benefit General Manager, the relationship Having led the abstracts voting process of not only the full membership but also between Gastech and SIGTTO went from and Gastech governing body meetings the liquefied gas industry in general. strength to strength. I first met Andrew myself for nearly a decade, I can say with The first SIGTTO General Manager I hand on heart that grading hundreds met was Bill Wayne, back in 2010 when upon hundreds of papers – often wildly I took on responsibility for the Gastech fluctuating in quality – can drive the best event. My very first memory of walking of us to drink. And I can’t think of many into the old office in St Helen’s Place was of people I’d more enjoy having a beer with Bill’s immediate warmth and charm, and than Andrew, especially if it involves how he made my colleagues and I feel so sitting at the Oval, watching the England welcome. He introduced us to the beautiful cricket team hammer the Aussies … old tanker models that still take pride of Here’s to the next 40 years. This, place today in the New Broad Street offices, undoubtedly, is set to be an era when and enthusiastically shared the stories of SIGTTO is challenged like never before, the pioneering vessels Methane Pioneer as we welcome in the strict new IMO and Methane Princess with my team. 2020 sulphur cap and then the IMO 2050 Bill Wayne helped me to understand emissions and CO2 laws, respectively. the extraordinary shared past that The complete liquefied gas supply chain, Gastech and SIGTTO then enjoyed. That from gas carrier and terminal operators past went back almost four decades, to to charterers and their customers, will 1972 when the inaugural Gastech event be motivated by the need to deliver was launched in London (albeit under a on corporate social responsibilities different name) and some of the founder and climate change commitments to members of what would become SIGTTO shareholders. The good news is that were first considering an involvement plentiful and clean-burning gas should in the nascent liquefied gas trades. Andrew Clifton, SIGTTO’s General Manager, find favour over other fossil fuels over I realised quickly that Gastech and was appointed as the new technical the period, leading to as-yet-unknown SIGTTO had walked arm in arm through the chairman for Gastech in 2018 market opportunities and growth.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 77 The kick-off meeting at the Baltic Exchange in February 2008 of what was to formalised as the IGC Code revision steering group The revision of the IGC Code Roger Roue, a former SIGTTO Technical be held in October 2007. Acceptance of the SIGTTO-backed industry proposal Adviser, describes one of the most significant was formally agreed at MSC 83 and a projects undertaken by SIGTTO in recent new, high-priority item entitled Revision of the IGC Code was included in the years, and no-one is better-placed to do so! work programme of IMO’s Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) Sub-committee . n the early 2000s there was much than had previously been the case and Pre-empting the outcome of the 12th BLG discussion in the gas shipping perhaps the ‘industry’ itself would be Session (BLG 12), to be held in February industry about the need to update best placed to undertake this task. 2008, an industry steering group was the provisions of IMO’s International assembled. The first meeting of this group I IMO calls on industry Code for the Construction and Equipment was held in the opulent surroundings of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk, Shortly before he handed over the reins as of the Baltic Exchange in London in popularly known as the IGC Code. Over the SIGTTO General Manager to Bill Wayne, January 2008 to discuss how the IGC Code two decades following its adoption in 1975 James MacHardy asked me if I would be revision process would be undertaken. the Code had served the industry well. The prepared to be the project coordinator for fact that it required very few amendments the revision of the Code, assuming that The participants in this meeting were:- over this period bore testimony to the IMO would agree to an industry proposal work of the experts who drafted it, led that it would take on the responsibility David MacRae - UK MCA by Bob Lakey of the US Coast Guard. for developing the revised provisions. In Ari Sipila - Aker Yards However, during the first decade of March 2007 Bill Wayne and I visited IMO Matsato Nakamura - the new millennium gas carrier design to meet with Efthimios Mitropoulos, the Kawasaki Heavy Industries and equipment was changing rapidly and Organization’s Secretary General, Koji Kiyotaka Yoshida – Mitsui OSK Lines it was felt by many in the industry that Sekimizu, Director of IMO’s Maritime Safety Doug Brown - China LNG Shipping in some areas the design standards for Division, and Miguel Palomares, Director Bernard Twomey - LR (representing IEC) gas carriers were dropping below those of the Marine Environment Division, for Gordon Milne - Suez LNG of conventional tankers. One example discussions on the IGC Code’s revision. Peter Justesen - Lauritzen Kosan was the protective location of cargo Being mindful of the technical nature Jim Gaughan - ABS (representing IACS) tanks. Also, the shipboard reliquefaction of the work, the IMO secretariat agreed in Manfred Küver – TGE Marine and regasification of LNG were being principle that industry should undertake Chris Clucas - Bernard Schulte introduced, as were commercial ship- a thorough review of the Code and present Shipmanagement to-ship transfers of liquefied gases, its work to IMO. Mr Sekimizu advised David Jones - BP Shipping new propulsion systems and potential that the correct procedure was for a flag Bill Wayne – SIGTTO new cargoes. It was clear that the next state administration to table the proposal David MacDonald – Teekay revision of the Code would require a at the upcoming 83rd Session of IMO’s Roger Roue - SIGTTO project much more extensive work programme Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 83), to coordinator and secretary

78 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication It was unanimously agreed Mark Hodgson that there was enormous enthusiasm societies, liquefied gas ship operators, of Shell, Bruno Dabouis of BV and Bjorn for the project. Picking working group shipyards specialising in the construction Lian of DNV should also be invited to join members was like ‘Fantasy Football’! I of liquefied gas ships and designers the steering group. Although it was the cannot think of anyone who declined of ship systems and equipment. This intention of the SIGTTO Secretariat that the my invitation to join the project. participation translated into a wide chairmanship of the steering group should range of industry coverage, as follows: rotate, Chris Clucas proposed that David It was agreed that there would be MacRae should be the permanent chairman. 10 working groups, as follows:- • Owners and operators controlling 51 This was agreed unanimously. David’s per cent of the world’s gas carrier capacity affiliation meant that it would be the UK WG1 - Goal-Based Support, • Classification societies ithw 98.5 per cent flag administration that submitted a draft chaired by Gordon Milne of the gas carrier fleet on their egistersr revised IGC Code to IMO for consideration. WG2 - Ship Arrangements, • Shipyards responsible for 33 per cent It was also agreed that all facets of chaired by Bruno Dabouis of the world’s LPG carrier construction industry would be invited to participate; WG3 - Cargo Control and Gas capacity and 44.8 per cent of the drafting group meetings would be held Burning, chaired by Mark Hodgson world’s LNG carrier capacity worldwide; and most steering group WG4 - Electrical and Instrumentation members would chair a working group. At Systems, chaired by Bernard Twomey A total of 37 working group meetings, BLG 12 in February 2008 IMO agreed to WG5 - Cargo Containment Systems, plus two ad hoc meetings, were held in the proposal by the UK that the industry chaired by Jim Gaughan 14 countries during the 26-month period itself should conduct the revision. This WG6 - Pressure Relief Systems, it took to complete the work of drafting was the first time that IMO had allowed chaired by Peter Justesen the revised IGC Code. The steering group industry to draft a document outside WG7 - Fire Hazard Management, met six times to review progress, offer the Organization’s direct control. chaired by Bjorn Lian guidance and direction, and agree on the WG8 - Operations and Special final draft to be submitted to IMO. This Industry calls on Requirements, chaired jointly by Chris amounted to 1,050 man-days in meetings, SIGTTO members Clucas in the Western Hemisphere plus an incalculable amount of time that To initiate the revision of the Code a broad and Doug Brown in the Far East members spent doing ‘homework’. cross-section of industry representatives WG9 - Application, Definitions, Surveys and was brought together to establish a Certification, chaired by David MacRae. Final furlong steering group to oversee the work, WG10 – Emergency Shutdown (ESD) In July 2010 David MacRae, Chris Clucas formalising the earlier exploratory group. Systems, chaired by Keith Jones and myself met to undertake the proof- The UK chaired the steering group and reading and final checking of the draft SIGTTO provided secretarial support. In keeping with the strategic approach document, and we were grateful for The steering group, consisting of 19 that IMO had begun to take with the the assistance provided by Witherby senior industry representatives, oversaw development of new maritime regulations Seamanship International Ltd in this work. the work of 10 working groups, each of in general, the revised IGC Code was to Under our remit for this task we were not which examined and revised different be ‘goal-based’, as opposed to rule-based, permitted to make any technical changes. sections of the Code. Progress with the in nature. However, the BLG chairman The draft revised IGC Code document was revision of the IGC Code was to be reported had warned that this approach should be submitted to IMO in November 2010 and back to relevant IMO committees and used carefully and for this reason it was appeared on the BLG 15 agenda as “Inf. 2”. sub-committees on a regular basis. decided to have a working group to advise Following further discussions and The task I was faced with, as project on goal-based approach (GBA) matters. some fine-tuning, the revised IGC Code coordinator, at first seemed rather daunting. The membership of the working groups was adopted by IMO at MSC 93 in May However, I had excellent backing from the consisted of experts from 48 different 2014. The updated Code entered into steering group and it soon became apparent entities, representing classification force in January 2016 and applies to ships whose keels were laid after July 2016. It was an honour to be asked to undertake this IGC Code revision coordination task and I thoroughly enjoyed both the work and the people I was working with. Throughout my time orkingw on this project I cannot recall any attempt by any participant attempting to sway members to gain commercial advantage. The dedicated work of these groups portrays perfectly the words of SIGTTO’s founding President Barry Hunsaker of El Paso Natural Gas back in 1979: “We will best achieve our goals by sharing with each other our non- proprietary technical and safety The revision of the IGC Code marked the first time that IMO had information and operating experiences entrusted the major upgrade of one of its instruments to industry through open and frank discussion.”

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 79 most automated commercial vessels then built. There was also a significant amount of information in the course on the construction of the vessels as this was well underway, with three US-built LNG carriers already delivered and the first membrane tank ship, a Technigaz Mark I vessel, to be constructed in the US just finishing sea trials. Firefighting was also part of the course, introducing dry chemical for the first time to many. However, information on how the ships were actually going to be operated was in short supply. The course instructor had a taken a trip from Kenai in Alaska to Tokyo Bay on the 71,500 m3 Polar Alaska, one of the first membrane LNG carriers. The shipyards had provided basic operating This Robert Lloyd painting, showing the 138,000 m3 Fuwairit at Ras Laffan, manuals for the vessels, but these had was presented by MOL to RasGas on the 100th cargo anniversary not found their way to the classroom. We exited the course with a very elementary understanding of how these ships might operate in actual practice. Double 40th anniversary Frankly, it appeared to a young third mate that it was trial and error for not only the ship and shore-based staff, but celebrations also the terminals as well. However, there was a spirit of tolerance in those Ed Carr of MOL, a former SIGTTO Board days that reflected the industry’s infancy, and knowledge and experience grew member and long-term supporter of the month by month and year by year. Society, looks back on a career in LNG SIGTTO appears on the radar shipping that also spans 40 years For me personally, knowledge of SIGTTO didn’t come until I was in charge of cargo guess that it was fitting that as serious accident or incident involving operations as chief mate, and some SIGTTO I was completing my 40th year any LNG ship or terminal would have a information papers started to arrive in the working in LNG shipping, Andrew significant impact on the entire industry. mail packs. During those early years we I Clifton asked me if I would share Therefore, the entire industry needed to experienced many challenges, but over some of my experiences for a publication come together, set high standards and, time the trade and operations matured commemorating SIGTTO’s 40th anniversary. critically, share information on best and the requirement for ‘trial and error’ My LNG career started in late July practices. Those seeds became SIGTTO. became less frequent and the tolerance 1978, when I enrolled in the LNG course Unfortunately, Mr Hunsaker passed for that method of operation also ebbed. at the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School away before he could take the helm of Although information from SIGTTO (CMES) in Baltimore, Maryland. MEBA what became The Society of International made its way to the vessels and their crews was the labour union providing deck Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators, but through the 1980s, it did not do so in a and engineering officers to both Energy thankfully, his vision was bright enough significant way. SIGTTO Panel and General Transportation Corporation (ETC) and El that others picked up the torch and here Purposes Committee (GPC) meetings, Paso Corporation and had an established we are 40 years later. Both ETC and El Paso along with their their proceedings and training school. Both companies had were amongst SIGTTO’s founder members. presentations, remained within a small significant numbers of LNG carriers under circle of people. But then, LNG shipping construction in US shipyards and needed Basic training was still a pretty small community trained personnel to operate them. However, in the summer and autumn in those days and the ability to share I presume that even then the seeds of 1978, there was no hint at CMES that information easily was not what it is today. of what would become SIGTTO were someday an industry body would not only When IMO’s International Ship starting to germinate in the mind of Barry provide the training standards and required Management (ISM) Code, with its safety Hunsaker, El Paso’s president. His company competencies to work on this type of vessel, management systems, was implemented had big plans for LNG and I’m told he was but also write and publish the definitive in mid-1990s, I was sailing as master on the driving force behind an organisation text, i.e. Liquefied Gas Handling Principles the 125,000 m3 spherical tank ship LNG that would bind those involved in the on Ships and in Terminals. We had no such Taurus. The formalisation of ‘near-miss operations of this business, which was on luxury of information in those days. reporting’ was something I embraced the threshold of very significant growth, I recall the course spent a significant and I started to make regular near- together in the common cause of safety. amount of time on automation, because miss reports. That brought my first real Barry Hunsacker’s vision was that a LNG carriers were going to be the interaction with SIGTTO and set me

80 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication on a course that changed my life. extremely valuable in our on plans. Here companies developed different standards, Several of those near-miss reports was the value of SIGTTO, information and this started to become not only a concerned close calls during transits of sharing and passing on lessons learned logistics problem but also a safety concern, the Singapore/Malacca Straits and wound for the benefit of the industry. as operators were moving staff from ship to up becoming a topic at a SIGTTO GPC ship to meet the ‘experience’ requirements meeting. It was decided that SIGTTO Focus on competencies of the different companies, on paper if should review the procedures LNG carriers Time moves on and so did I, joining Mitsui nothing else. Again, SIGTTO stepped in used to make safe transits. A working OSK Lines (MOL) in London in 2003. The and established a standard experience group was formed and I was nominated headlong expansion of the LNG business matrix that could be used by the industry. by ETC, my employer and a founding meant many new ship crews would need to I was proud to be part of SIGTTO’s efforts member of SIGTTO, to participate in it. be trained. Thankfully, training materials over the years. When I look back and see That working group held a meeting in had improved dramatically since 1978, all the changes that have happened in the Bahrain early in 1998 and it was decided to as evidenced by the fact that realistic last 40 years, I can’t help but feel that if write a guide to Passage Planning for LNG cargo simulators were now in use at a SIGTTO had not been there to help guide Carriers transiting the Singapore/Malacca number of company training schools. the industry as it grew, then the success we Straits to assist new (and old) mariners However, there were no industry celebrate today might not have happened. make a safe passage. At that SIGTTO standards on what competencies mariners Looking forward, we have a mature meeting, I was introduced to representatives should have when they first went to work on industry, but also one that keeps evolving, of Mobil Shipping who were starting a LNG carriers and what knowledge should with new trades, new technologies and new project in Qatar called RasGas. be used to develop those competencies. new people, to whom those of us now a bit The need for such standards was urgent. long in the tooth look to pass the baton. Ashore in Qatar At the turn of the century there were just Despite all the changes the vision of Barry That encounter led me to leave the over 100 LNG carriers in service. By 2006 it Hunsaker, for an industry body sharing shipboard phase of my LNG career was close to 180 and it was projected to be information and best practices as a way to behind and start a new one working for more than 300 when the first decade of the operate safely, remains as relevant as ever. RasGas in Qatar as their first shipping 2000s was over. While that fleet expansion In some ways I’m envious of those operations manager. This was 1998 and at rate might have been similar to the growth joining the industry and being trained today the start of what was to become another of the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was because there is so much good information significant period of expansion in the exponentially more in terms of the number and so many ways to deliver it to those LNG tanker and terminal business. of new people who needed training. who need it. However, I also know that Thankfully, by this time SIGTTO was SIGTTO stepped up to the challenge. It the tolerance for trial and error that I was well established and I was able to benefit was the Society’s speediest effort to date, given doesn’t exist anymore, nor should it. greatly from the information they shared. the required experts were brought together I would like to thank all those, present RasGas became a member of SIGTTO to produce, without delay, the competency and past, who have made SIGTTO a success and I was one of the representatives. The standards that companies and schools could and truly hope the Society continues its good business was not only expanding rapidly use to develop their training programmes. work so that this industry can continue to with many new ships and crews but the While training is one thing, experience operate safely and to the highest standards. business models used for the previous is another. As new and existing operators 20 years were also starting to change. put more and more ships into service, Ed Carr is senior vice president Short-term charters and sales contracts the level of experience possessed by the LNG and Offshore – North & South were entering the picture and ship/shore crews had become a concern. Different America with MOL (Americas) compatibility, something previously done only once at the beginning of a project, was now becoming a regular requirement. The spherical tanks for the ETC ships Inspection and the start of LNG carrier were built at a separate facility and ‘vetting’, an established practice for oil barged up the US East Coast for and LPG tankers, was poking its nose installation at the General Dynamics under the LNG tent. Thankfully, SIGTTO yard in Quincy, Massachusetts had an inspection checklist as part of its available member documents and I adapted this for the first inspections I did on behalf of RasGas for its short- term shipping requirements. The development of new trades and new terminals, including in India and the Adriatic, as well as the expansion of the export terminal facilities at Ras Laffan in Qatar were all under consideration. These plans moved quickly to the project realisation stage and SIGTTO information- sharing was key. In particular, I recall the information shared by Total on designing Bontang Berth 3 to accommodate the largest number of vessels as being

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 81 16.05.2019 14:33 (tx_vecto) PDF_1.3_PDFX_1a_2001 300dpi YMCK ISOcoatedv2_FOGRA39_U280_K95 GMGv5 CEO. He and our Russian partners were very committed to make Yamal LNG the success story it is now. These examples illustrate how the LNG industry and shipping have changed over the 40 years since SIGTTO was established. And, to be very honest, the TOTAL LNG story would not have been the same and much more difficult to achieve without the existence of SIGTTO. Indeed, the Society has played a major role in providing the high levels of standardisation inherent in the gas industry, not least through TOTAL’s chartered 180,000 m3 SK Audace is the first LNG carrier to defining recognised industry best practice guidelines which have helped streamline be propelled by X-DF two-stroke, low-pressure, dual-fuel engines the development of the business without jeopardising the safety of operations. The standardisation of activities at the ship/shore interface is just one of a number TOTAL, the gas of key SIGTTO contributions worthy of mention. Those already involved in interface compatibility studies in the 1980s would industry and SIGTTO definitely approve of the guidelines that the Society has developed over the intervening TOTAL’s Luc Gillet (left), a past years. The role played by SIGTTO in the recently completed major revision of IMO’s President of the Society, and International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code is Peter Justesen (right) provide another accomplishment of special note. From a safety perspective, the most an insight into how an energy important achievement made by the major derives benefit from SIGTTO membership Society is its contribution to the remarkable performance record that the liquefied OTAL has been a SIGTTO 20 years. These include the merger with gas industry has built up over the years member for years, but not a the former French oil and gas company in minimising accidents. Newcomers passive one. Indeed, through ELF in a deal which brought TOTAL its to the business, the number of which T its participation on both the current share in Nigeria LNG equity and keeps on increasing due to the growing Board of Directors and the General Purposes the project’s related LNG carrier fleet. demand for gas, are definitely able Committee (GPC), our company’s policy More recently, the purchase of the commence operations more quickly and has always been to be an active member ENGIE LNG business unit, including the at a higher entry-level threshold thanks of the Society as well as one of the major ship management company Gazocean, to the guidelines set up by the traditional players in the gas industry in general and also contributed to a significant increase players through the SIGTTO forum. The in the LNG business more specifically. in TOTAL’s share of the LNG market. standards that have been developed are TOTAL has also been active in the global Thanks to this acquisition, the company effectively starting-point references. LPG sector for quite a long time. We currently inherited the people who designed and In conclusion, the past 40 years have operate a fleet of about 10 LPG carriers, from ordered; participated in the construction been very exciting for the liquefied fully pressurised ships up to and including and delivery in 2006 of; and eventually gas sector, characterised by incredible very large gas carriers (VLGCs). Our presence operated the 74,100 m3 Global Energy, the developments sustained by the continuous in the LPG sector has been mainly driven by first LNG carrier to be powered by a dual-fuel efforts of SIGTTO and its members. The our group’s network of production facilities diesel-electric (DFDE) propulsion system. years ahead look equally as promising and refineries as well as through some LPG A couple of years ago TOTAL also ordered for growth and technological advances. storage terminals, mainly located in France. the 180,000 m3 SK Audace, the first LNG The demand for gas is increasing as is TOTAL’s activities in the LPG segment carrier to be propelled by X-DF two-stroke, that for floating regasification, storage have increased over the last 12 months, low-pressure, dual-fuel engines supplied and liquefaction projects; small-scale thanks to the group’s new production by Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD). LNG; and LNG bunkering. The sheer output from Australia and the development It was not a straightforward decision, sum of the competencies and skills of of US East Coast export volumes. as it took three days to convince our the SIGTTO membership will ensure that On the LNG side TOTAL is a stakeholder management, three weeks to convince the the Society continues to play a key role in a dozen large liquefaction plants, half shipyard and three months to convince the in maintaining the safety and reliability a dozen of receiving terminals and four shipowner of the merits of this innovative levels demanded by our industry. LNG carriers. We also manage a fleet of propulsion system. But we made it! 15-20 LNGCs as charterer. This position is TOTAL has also been very active in Luc Gillet, senior vice president the result of a long-term involvement and the development of the first icebreaking shipping, TOTAL Trading & Shipping. strategy which, combined, have achieved LNG carrier, proudly named Christophe Peter Justesen, vice president LNG Shipping, some noticeable milestones over the last de Margerie as a tribute to our former TOTAL Gas, Renewables and Power

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 83

16.05.2019 14:33 (tx_vecto) PDF_1.3_PDFX_1a_2001 300dpi YMCK ISOcoatedv2_FOGRA39_U280_K95 GMGv5 Lord Donaldson’s speech at IMO helped spur the SIGTTO project to develop crew competency standards St Helen’s Place. The damage to the SIGTTO premises was extensive but, fortunately, no- one was present at the time. Bruce was given clearance to visit the office the next day only to encounter severe water damage and the shattered remnants of what had been a very good welcome party the night before! Silver Jubilee In 2004 we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of SIGTTO with a notable evening reception at the IMO building on London’s Albert Embankment. The SIGTTO membership was present in force, as the event coincided with London gatherings of the Board of Directors and the GPC as well as an Annual General Meeting. We were pleased to have Efthimios Mitropoulos, the IMO Secretary General, and Lord Donaldson of Lymington as the principal guests at the IMO reception. Also present was Sir Denis Rooke, chairman of British Gas. In his younger days Sir Denis had been a member of the Notes from the start technical team that had sailed on board Methane Pioneer in February 1959 when it carried the first-ever seaborne cargo of of the modern era LNG from Lake Charles in the US state of Louisiana to Canvey Island in the UK. James MacHardy, SIGTTO’s sixth General In his address Lord Donaldson concentrated on the responsibilities Manager, looks back 15 years to the time of shipowners and operators and also when liquefied gas shipping commenced noted the sometimes undervalued role of terminal operators in the safe handling of the great transition to the modern era LNG and LPG. He said that in these days of agency manning (then pertaining in ichael Grey, the esteemed Arabia. That was in February 1992 and, 2004) shipowners should demand one columnist and one- interestingly, SIGTTO has not had another very important crew requirement which time editor of Lloyds meeting in Saudi Arabia since then. is in danger of being overlooked. This is M List, described SIGTTO I never visited SIGTTO’s old Staple Hall that there must be a common shipboard as “a curious organisation, but one office but I was present at the reception language for both officers and crew, even which is the repository of all that is held to mark the opening of the 17 St if individuals have different tongues. known in the world about the marine Helen’s Place premises on the evening It is a fact of life that in an emergency transportation and terminalling of of Friday, 23 April 1993. The Society’s we all panic in our mother tongue. gas. Its members willingly share their then General Manager was Capt Bruce It was Lord Donaldson’s well-chosen information; one reason, it is said, why Keer, a former seagoing colleague of words that prompted SIGTTO’s GPC to the sector is so extraordinarily safe.” mine, while Dick Chadburn of Shell was, commission and publish Competency A profound statement to read during in those days, SIGTTO’s sole Technical Standards for Officers on LNG Vessels. your first week as General Manager in Adviser. The remaining core member of The publication was well received by the February 2003, sitting at a desk looking out the Secretariat was Adele Ball, the Office maritime industry and endorsed by IMO onto St Helen’s Place in the City of London, Manager. A dedicated and conscientious at their Standards of Training Certification the cobbled street, the entrance gate, the member of staff over many years, Adele had and Watchkeeping (STCW) conference. security men and the gas street lamps. provided a beautiful spread that evening Michael’s words about the willingness of to enable SIGTTO’s friends and guests to Floating technology the Society’s members to share information celebrate the official opening in convivial Around the time of the SIGTTO Silver were very comforting, as that feature is, of surroundings. It was a very pleasant affair Jubilee celebrations a considerable course, the essence of all SIGTTO meetings. and everyone there wished SIGTTO well number of new LNG receiving terminals in their new abode, close to the historic were under construction in the US, in Early SIGTTO contacts offices of the Hudson Bay Company. anticipation of a growing demand for gas My first SIGTTO meeting, attended Of course, what happened nearby early imports in the country. In addition a new some years before taking up the General the next morning has also gone down in technology was being developed – ship- Manager role, was a gathering of the history. The Bishopsgate bomb planted to-ship (STS) transfers of LNG cargoes General Purposes Committee (GPC) and by IRA terrorists was detonated outside St and onboard regasification as part of a Panel Meeting at Dhahran in Saudi Ethelburga’s Church, a near neighbour to commercial operations – again with the

84 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication gas import needs of the US in mind. at Kuching in the Malaysian state of - the Atlantic LNG export facility at Point In March 2005 a full cargo of LNG was Sarawak. We had an interesting river Fortin in Trinidad. For me, it meant a regasified by the 138,000 3m Excelsior, boat trip up the Sarawak River and I’m return to a place where I had spent a very the world’s first floating storage and not sure if I have ever experienced so happy year before joining SIGTTO. regasification unit (FSRU), and transferred much rain, either before or since. In September 2006 our Panel Meeting to shore as natural gas via a submerged I also recollect those early Panel in Vancouver was held at a venue which turret loading (STL) buoy positioned meetings where the then General Manager happened to be in the city’s red light 185 km off the coast of Louisiana in Bruce Keer was giving the SIGTTO update district. I’ll say no more here. Moving swiftly the US Gulf and a subsea pipeline. The presentations and Dick Chadburn, his on, we visited the Hudong-Zhonghua offshore facility, called Gulf Gateway, Technical Adviser, was down on his Shipbuilding Co shipyard in Shanghai in had been constructed by Excelerate knees changing the acetate sheets on the November that year. SIGTTO members were Energy, the ship’s charterer. Excelerate overhead projector! We’re lucky that audio- allowed access to the 147,200 m3 Dapeng had developed the FSRU technology in visual technology has also moved on. Sun which was under construction. The tandem with Exmar, the ship’s manager. In autumn 2003, under my watch as vessel was the first LNG carrier to be built The principals were congratulated on General Manager, SIGTTO’s Japanese in China and was set for operation by China a safe operation and the hugely successful members hosted the Board meeting at LNG Shipping International Co Ltd. FSRU era was born. At the time SIGTTO was Hakone. At that time of year Hakone heavily involved in beneficial discussions was a truly remarkable place, what with No resting on laurels on ship and terminal safety with the US the autumn colours and the views of The UK’s Lord Justice Sheen, in one marine Coast Guard (USCG) and the Federal Lake Ashi and Mt Fuji. I was fortunate incident inquiry, famously described Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). enough to be able to repay some of shipping management failures as “the These discussions erew successful the Japanese hospitality by inviting disease of sloppiness”. That was some in convincing the US authorities that, six Japanese members to our house years ago but today the improvements in through SIGTTO and its membership, for Sunday lunch during SIGTTO’s 25- LNG and LPG design, construction and the liquefied gas ship and terminal year celebrations in London in 2004. operational standards are measurable industry were self-regulating to a high Our other Panel Meeting in 2004 took and visible. In our industry we have an degree. The excellent safety record place in San Francisco. There was much enviable record where our ships and achieved by gas carriers and terminals discussion during the proceedings on the terminals are safer, more secure and more over many years of operation bears looming world energy crisis, prompting one environment-friendly than ever before. testimony to this ability to self-regulate. member to suggest that if the US turned This is a record that nobody wants to spoil. The downside is, of course, that in the off the office and street lights at night there Nevertheless, accidents do occur. The event of any serious incident, the regulators would not be an energy crisis! That Meeting risk of accidents increases with the growth would have a field day. The industry bible, included an excellent ‘technical’ visit to the in fleet size and the diversification of IMO’s International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code, Napa Valley where we had the opportunity the liquefied gas supply chain. We must recently updated with invaluable assistance to sample liquids stored in impressive continue to work hard to minimise the from SIGTTO and its membership, and ‘containment’ systems somewhat different risk of accidents occurring and to reduce the raft of Society publications, including to those encountered in our industry. and contain the impact of those that do Liquefied Gas Handling Principles on A SIGTTO Regional Forum meeting occur. As part of this effort, we must all Ships and Terminals, all help to maintain in Copenhagen in June 2005 lives long go that little bit further to ensure that our the high standards required across in the memory. At that event our Danish operations on board and at the terminals the global gas shipping industry. members kindly took participants out for are conducted to the highest standards SIGTTO has always had the benefit an evening sail on what was undoubtedly at all times and in all circumstances. of enthusiastic members, all of whom the coldest night of the year. A month The stakes are too high and the are always willing to contribute earlier the SIGTTO Board had enjoyed a consequences too dire to accept anything their knowledge, their time and technical visit to a much warmer location less than a perfect record in our industry. their facilities. No ‘quango’ can exist successfully without that freely given assistance, and long may it continue. Thanks for the memories The meetings, the forums, the friends, the characters and the members all make SIGTTO different and successful. Memories come flooding back. The SIGTTO Panel Meeting in Nagoya in September 1992, for example, gave members the opportunity to visit the 87,500 3m Polar Eagle, one of a pair of LNG carriers that were the first to be built with the IHI self- supporting, prismatic-shape, IMO Type B (IHI SPB) containment system, then under construction at the IHI yard in Kobe. The following year, in September, I had the opportunity to repay some of our Japanese members’ hospitality SIGTTO held its GPC and Panel Meetings by hosting a small group for lunch at home during our London Silver Jubilee

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 85 Freeport LNG Congratulates SIGTTO on its

Freeport LNG has been a SIGTTO member for nearly 10 years. We are proud to support SIGTTO’s mission of promoting safe, reliable growth and development across the LNG industry. The LNG bunker barge Clean Jacksonville following successful cold trials in Orange, Texas

In December 2018 the LGC NCOE SIGTTO and the regulator collaborated with SIGTTO, Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) and Riviera Maritime Media to hold the fourth annual of the world’s fastest growing Liquefied Gas Senior Executive Forum in Houston. As with the three previous gas trades enjoy close ties meetings in the series, the latest event was a huge success. The fourth Liquefied LCDR Dallas D Smith of the US Coast Gas Senior Executive Forum covered an array of topics that included LNG exports, Guard reports on the partnership that has LPG and chemical gases, the use of LNG been developed between SIGTTO and his as a marine fuel and LNG bunkering. The US liquefied gas industry is agency’s team of liquefied gas specialists currently experiencing tremendous growth, with more to come in the next few years. As he US Coast Guard’s Liquefied standards by improving the availability a result, the US is expecting to be playing Gas Carrier (LGC) National and relevancy of training for the Coast host, within the next two years, to more Center of Expertise (NCOE) is a Guard’s community of gas carrier and than double the annual number of liquefied T hand-selected team comprised gas-fuelled ship marine inspectors. gas carrier port calls, with especially high of liquefied gas subject matter experts. The Coast Guard was invited to volumes in the US Gulf of Mexico region. The LGC NCOE was developed to serve the become a member of SIGTTO and the With the rising volume of gas carrier Coast Guard as in-house consultants on all LGC NCOE is designated as the Coast traffic comes increased operational aspects of liquefied gas carriers, liquefied Guard’s official liaison with the Society. complexity, necessitating, in consequence, gas terminals, liquefied gas-fuelled vessels Through an approved Mutual Training additional training to ensure operations and liquefied gas bunkering operations. Agreement (MTA), the Coast Guard is are executed safely. Operations associated This team provides technical advice able to partner with SIGTTO and its with liquefied gas carriers, LNG-fuelled to industry and the Coast Guard while members to facilitate Coast Guard training vessels and LNG bunkering operations striving to increase and maintain the opportunities within the liquefied gas are amongst the most technologically Coast Guard’s collective competency shipping industry. The MTA helps Coast advanced within the maritime sector. and capabilities. The LGC NCOE serves Guard marine inspectors and port state Against this background, the international as the link between the Coast Guard and control officers increase their competency forums that we participate in with the liquefied gas community by always through ship rides, industry training SIGTTO are key to an effective sharing remaining up to speed on current and and participation in technical meetings. of insight and best practices between often innovative liquefied gas projects. This has also afforded the Coast Guard the industry and the regulators. We work diligently to guide industry’s the opportunity to be transparent with An example of this advanced technology engagement with appropriate field industry, share findings and developments, is the successful construction in the US and staff personnel. As a Coast Guard and broadcast the Coast Guard’s of the bunker barge Clean Jacksonville. headquarters unit, the LGC NCOE works regulatory position in various mediums. The 2,200 m3 Clean Jacksonville is the to identify gaps within the maritime This mutually beneficialelationship r world’s first LNG bunker barge to use governance of the liquefied gas industry has enabled the LGC NCOE to membrane tank technology. In 2018 and provides recommendations for Coast participate in SIGTTO Panel Meetings the world’s LNG community witnessed Guard regulations and policy. As certified and Regional Forums, and to assist a critical milestone when the vessel instructors, LGC NCOE personnel are with technical working groups. Most successfully loaded its first LNG cargo. leading the effort to achieve consistency notably, the LGC NCOE continues Clean Jacksonville is currently homeported in the Coast Guard’s application of to present at SIGTTO’s biannual Pan in Jacksonville, Florida where she bunkers safety, security, and environmental American Regional Forums (PARFs). Tote’s LNG-fuelled containerships.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 87 The Kairos gas-handing system provides an unrivalled operating envelope which facilitates, amongst other things, LNG bunkering

early 1990s paved the company’s way into Schulte gas shipping and the LNG sector. The LNG commitment was then developed into other services, including training for National Gas SIGTTO commitments Shipping Company (NGSCO)/BP in the late 1990s and consultancy for Petronet in 2000. Plan approval and newbuilding closely linked supervision services were added in 2001 when another Schulte Group company, Dorchester Maritime, was contracted by David Furnival, current SIGTTO President Spain’s Naviera Tapias, a new entrant and Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement to LNG, to support their 140,000 m3 membrane tank vessel newbuilding COO, looks back on his company’s programme. The new Tapias fleet 50-plus years in gas shipping and included one of the first LNG carriers to be built in Spain for over 30 years. almost 20 years of working with SIGTTO Soon after the delivery of these vessels Tapias sold its LNG business to Teekay. ernhard Schulte was established natural gas in their medium-speed main In 2000 Dorchester Maritime was as a shipping company in propulsion diesel engines. However, the engaged by Navigator Gas to take over Papenburg, Germany in construction of a gas pipeline between the supervision and full management of B 1883, long before gas carriers Libya and Sicily at the time obviated the their 22,000 m3 ethylene carriers being entered service. Some 85 years later, in need for their use with an anticipated LNG built at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. 1968, the company took on management project and resulted in the vessels being These were the world’s largest ethylene responsibility for the semi-ref LPG carrier employed in the LPG and ethylene trades. carriers at the time and established a Cap Roland, newly built, coincidentally, in relationship between the two companies Papenburg. That transaction sparked an Management specialists that lasted more than 15 years. interest in the liquefied gas sector that has The establishment of a number At the same time Bernhard Schulte continued blossoming to the present day. of wholly owned third-party ship was building its own LPG and ethylene The company’s second LPG carrier, Fritz management companies, commencing carriers at the Jiangnan yard. The fact Haber, joined the fleet in 1972 and this with Cyprus-based Hanseatic that the group is still operating these vessel was followed by three owned, LNG- Shipping Co in 1972, accelerated the ships 20 years later bears testimony to ready IMO Type C tank ethylene carriers growth of the Schulte LPG fleet. the fundamental quality of not only the in 1974. The 2,420 3m Anna Schulte, Sophie The provision of crew management yard’s first series of gas carriers but also the Schulte and Lissy Schulte were advanced services to Chemtrans, BP and Abu Dhabi’s vessels’ gas-handling plants which were vessels for their time, capable of burning National Gas Shipping Co (NGSCO) in the supplied by Tractebel Gas Engineering.

88 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication newbuilding supervision, specialised with Mitsui and Co, and the innovative Training focus gas training for shore staff and crew and 7,500 m3 gas supply vessel Kairos, jointly Crew training has always been a priority technical and crew management. Part of owned with Babcock. Kairos is equipped for the Schulte Group and the LNG sector Greece’s Angelicoussis Shipping Group, with a patented gas-handing system that has received a great deal of focus. This Maran Gas places great emphasis on provides an unrivalled operating envelope. is particularly true during intensive maintaining the high standards expected The award of a contract covering the full periods of newbuilding deliveries when of LNGC operators by the industry at large. management of four 174,000 m3 LNG strong programmes of cross-training As a result, the assimilation of the carriers owned by Flex LNG added to from the LPG and tanker fleet sectors are Dorchester Maritime service package the success achieved by BSM in 2018. implemented to supplement the limited by Maran Gas was a straightforward pool of LNG-experienced officers. process. It included the cross-training Schulte and SIGTTO In 1991 Hanseatic Shipping formed of Greek tanker officers who have The Schulte Group’s relationship with a joint venture with Chemikalien performed excellently in LNG service. SIGTTO dates back to around 2002 when Seetransport to adapt their 35,000 m3 The collaboration has helped Maran Gas we first became members. Various of LNG carrier Annabella as an operational develop into one of the industry’s leading the company’s employees have been training school. The vessel already independent LNG carrier owner/operators. keen and consistent contributors to the had generous accommodation, and In 2007/8 Bernhard Schulte Society’s work programme ever since. this was supplemented by classroom Shipmanagement (BSM), the new name Schulte staff have held the positions training facilities that allowed students for the four previously independent of Human Element Committee (HEC) to see both the theoretical and practical Schulte ship management companies, was member, General Purposes Committee aspects of liquefied gas handling. awarded full management of four 216,000 (GPC) chair, Panel Meeting chair, Board Benefiting from horts voyages m3 Q-flex LNG carriers jointly owned Vice-President and President. We have and frequent loading and discharge by Nakilat and OSG. The collaboration also participated in numerous SIGTTO operations, and with the Schulte Group’s was successful and OSG, another new working groups, including those dealing acknowledged gas industry expert Chris LNG sector entrant at the time, took with the revision of the International Gas Clucas among the tutors, the school was control of the technical management Carrier (IGC) Code, emergency shutdowns, a highly effective training facility that of the vessels in 2012. BSM remains as advanced competency training for LPG continued for more than a decade. crew managers of the quartet to this and LNG officers, the SIGTTO Matrix, Having a large fleet of LPG carriers under day. Similar collaboration arrangements the use of mercaptans, fire hazard management has provided Schulte with were contracted with Greek shipowners management and steam engineer training. a strong pool of officers for cross-training Thenamaris in 2013 and Alpha Gas in 2015. The future of gas shipping continues in preparation for service on LNG ships. The Schulte Group acquired Pronav, to look bright for the Schulte Group, However, while liquefied gas handling was the Hamburg-based LNG specialist ship with confirmed contracts for the full adequately covered with in-house computer manager, in 2017. Pronav has a long management of both LPG and LNG simulators, the transition of navigating history of faultless operations in the LNG vessels under construction. The current officers from small to large ships requires sector, including the newbuilding and full gas fleet comprises of over 100 owned a different approach. In 2005 Dorchester management of four Q-flex ships from 2004 and managed vessels and this is Maritime collaborated with the Ilawa to the present day. The Pronav fleet was expected to rise to 130 by 2021/22. ship-handling centre in Poland to build a supplemented with two full management It will be a challenge to develop the scaled manned model of a large LNGC. steam turbine LNG carriers in 2012. required resources both on board and The result asw Dorchester Lady, a model The completion of two notable LNG ashore while meeting the high operational provided with an interchangeable stern vessels in 2018 made it a milestone year and safety standards defined by our to enable the simulation of both single for BSM. The company took delivery clients, charterers, SIGTTO and the gas and twin-skeg propulsion arrangements. of both its first large LNG carrier, the shipping industry as a whole. Nevertheless, It is also possible to set steam turbine, 174,000 m3 Marvel Hawk, jointly owned it is one we are determined to deliver. slow-speed diesel and duel-fuel diesel- electric (DFDE) propulsion system configurations for Dorchester Lady. As a supplemental training to full mission computer simulation, the manned model has proven to be an effective and valued tool by the participating officers. LNG packages The number of LNG carriers for which the Schulte Group provides crew management services continued to expand when MISC awarded a contract for part of its LNG fleet in 2003 and NGSCO added four more in 2004. In 2005 Dorchester Maritime partnered 3 with Maran Gas, then another new Delivered in 1973, the 2,420 m Anna Schulte and her two sisters were originally built for a small-scale LNG project that never materialised entrant to the LNG sector, to provide a contracted service package which includes

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 89 AT THE HELM OF EXCELLENCE sYourstrustedspartnersinsmanagingsGassTankers

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1sKimsSengsPromenade,s#10-11/12 +65-6278-8233s GreatsWorldsCity,sWestsTower,sSingapores237994 www.synergymarinegroup.com The first meeting of SIGTTO’s Human Element Committee, held at London’s Baltic Exchange in 2016 dramatically, including through rapid increases in ship and fleet sizes. Long- term LNG sale and purchase agreements are no longer the norm and vessel time charters have reduced in length. Floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) and floating storage units (FSUs) are also now well established. Throughout this period of growth and diversifying supply chains SIGTTO has been a great source of knowledge and a provider of expert advice whenever sought. It has ensured that liquefied gas operations remain one of the safest in the shipping industry. I joined Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) in 2014. I saw it as a major player in LNG shipping and a company which prides itself as a leader in safe operations. As a lead investigator I have always been interested in the human element. This came to a head in 2015 when one of our vessels experienced a venting incident in Barcelona. A number of human failings were identified. As a company we reviewed Boosting the human these failings and set about initiating a number of new practices, including our LNG Cargo Control Room (CCR) Resource Management Course and CCR CCTV Audits. element focus The incident and our follow-up were shared with SIGTTO and the industry. Stephen Allibone, Chair of SIGTTO’s In 2016 SIGTTO established its Human Element Committee, Human Element Committee (HEC) which I was privileged to join. HEC set up a examines the work of the Society’s number of working groups that report newest plenary body to it, including the CCR Ergonomics and Competency group, of which I am a ver the years I have had the preparations to join the ship. I have been member. I firmly believe that the HEC and opportunity to work with involved with LNG, more or less, since this its working groups will have a positive and meet many people that time. In my first appointment when I came impact on liquefied gas operations. O have been associated with ashore in 1995 I was seconded into Abu I have recently been appointed as HEC SIGTTO. On my first trip to sea, as a very Dhabi’s National Gas Shipping Company Chairman and it is a challenge which I am hesitant cadet with BP, the chief officer (NGSCO) as health and safety adviser looking forward to. Coming from a variety was James MacHardy. I learned a lot but returned to BP Shipping in 2000. of backgrounds, the members of HEC from James and I would like to think of During my time as LNG marine and its groups are a very knowledgeable him as a role model. Once he even sent superintendent at BP I came to know more bunch. Each individual has had an me to the Vatican from Gaeta to get him of SIGTTO and the high standards that it input to the work we are doing and the a postcard! That remains a treasured applies. I had a strong working relationship inherent progress being made. From memory. Later I met him in the BP Shipping with Roger Roue, another Technical these members it is possible to identify office when he was the gas manager Adviser, and I would often contact him industry best practices and incorporate there, before he moved on to become for his advice or just to ‘bounce’ ideas off these into the SIGTTO publications and the SIGTTO General Manager in 2003. him. We often discussed the standards guidelines that we are working on. It I also worked with Marc Hopkins, Paul of designated LNG tugs, terminal stand- is a pleasure to work with this team. Steele, Chris Snape and Andy Murray. All by requirements and evolving designs. SIGTTO’s move to its new office in the of them became significantly involved Part of our discussions also concerned City of London in 2018 has also been a in the work of the SIGTTO Secretariat LNG marine terminal projects. Later positive step, allowing expansion and as Technical Advisers. All four can be I attended SIGTTO General Purposes more staff to join an increasingly busy considered experts in their field. Committee (GPC) meetings as an observer. Secretariat. I have seen how busy the office My first trip on a gas vessel was on board In 1990 there was somewhere in the is and the need for extra staff. SIGTTO is a the 70,500 m3 LPG carrier Gas Enterprise as region of 125 LNG carriers and all were respected organisation which has adapted chief officer. I moved into the LNG carrier involved in designated LNG projects. All to the change in the industry. Its work is sector in 1990 when I stood by during the the major players were SIGTTO members diversified and challenging, yet the original construction of the 127,500 m3 Northwest and well known within the industry. concept of the Society has not changed. This Shearwater at Kawasaki in Japan as part of Since then the industry has evolved can only be a good thing for the industry.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 91 Carrier (IGC) Code revision as Chair for two of the new IGC chapters. My group was but Guiding a fit-for- a part of a larger SIGTTO team dedicated to carrying out the revision of the entire IGC Code on behalf of IMO. To align a large number of stakeholders in developing new future SIGTTO and revised provisions and then bringing the resultant package through the IMO Mark Hodgson, currently chairing process required the input of hundreds of contributors and thousands of man-hours SIGTTO’s General Purposes Committee, in arriving at the agreed, draft texts. outlines the steps being taken by What impressed me most with this project was the dedication, commitment that body to ensure continued and and professionalism of the participating future success for the liquefied gas sector organisations and the individuals that SIGTTO managed to coordinate. It y present role in SIGTTO who guided me in the early days a still fills me with admiration for those is as General Purposes debt of gratitude for inspiring my gas in the industry as well as pride that Committee (GPC) Chair. shipping passion. I still occasionally see I had the chance to be part of it. M I took up the position in some of these early guiding lights, even I recall chairing the IMO Editing late 2016 and, following an extension to though almost all are now retired. Group at what used to be known as the the tenure earlier in 2019, I am not due to Underpinned by the huge success Organization’s Bulk Liquids and Gases step down until end-2022. My appointment of our industry to date, we are now (BLG) Sub-committee, working into as Chair came after being a SIGTTO GPC looking forward to further changes the early hours with colleagues and member on behalf of Shell since 2009. in gas shipping technology as the IMO representatives from several of I believe that SIGTTO has had and drive for a cleaner environment and a the national marine administrations, continues to have an enormous positive decarbonising future gathers pace. Such notably the UK and Japan, to make sure benefit in the success of the liquefied gas advances encompass liquefied carbon the draft revised IGC Code submissions industry. In addition, the Society’s role in dioxide (CO2) and liquefied hydrogen were ready for IMO plenary sessions. ensuring the future success of our sector (LH2) shipping, both of which I’m All in all, my association with this is set to become increasingly important. fortunate to be involved with at Shell. task and achievement stretched over six years. It was very fitting that during this Privileged position IGC Code revision period the 50th anniversary of the first I have great memories of my decade with What stands out for me over the years? delivery of a commercial LNG cargo was GPC and of the people I’ve met during the Too many individual things to mention, celebrated in October 2014. The industry course of the Committee’s work – everyone but amongst several GPC working landmark included recognition of Roger from the GPC members themselves and the groups, such as those devoted to ship-to- Ffooks, one of the leading lights in LNG SIGTTO Secretariat staff to countless other ship (STS) LNG transfer and the effects shipping from the outset. Roger was a industry participants who contributed to of fire on LNG carriers, two notable Shell naval architect and the author of our projects. Like other SIGTTO members, experiences will stay with me forever. Natural Gas by Sea, a must read for anyone I have a long-standing passion for the The first is leading the International Gas in our industry. Although I didn’t know gas shipping industry and it has been a blessing for me to have been associated with the Committee representatives. I have the utmost professional and personal respect for my industry colleagues and the work they have done in the cause of safe, quality and environment- friendly liquefied gas operations. My own liquefied gas experience since joining Shell in 1981 has been mainly focused on LNG, from sailing on the fleet vessels as an engineer through to superintendent and fleet manager roles. More recently the technology teams with which I’ve been involved have been concerned with the design and delivery of new, more efficient LNG carriers, floating regasification and storage units (FSRUs), floating LNG production (FLNG) vessels and even recycling older LNG vessels according to the Hong Kong SIGTTO has established a new sub-committee, under the auspices of its Convention. Almost a full house I guess. General Purposes Committee, to consider floating process vessel issues I owe my colleagues and mentors

92 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication IMO’s interim recommendations on the carriage of liquid hydrogen highlight the strengthening industry emphasis on decarbonisation measures

Roger Ffooks personally, I had the signal GPC challenges not have worried. The response from honour of attending his funeral, on behalf When I took up the role of SIGTTO GPC the GPC membership was fantastic, of Shell and SIGTTO, to say goodbye to a Chair in 2016, in addition to feeling rather with so many valuable ideas and gentleman and true industry pioneer. overawed at following those noted figures suggestions arriving from across the from the liquefied gas sector who had full spectrum of our business. Establishing SGMF previously occupied the seat, I looked In fact I had difficulty assimilating My second abiding SIGTTO experience forward to working closely with some of the overwhelming wave of energy and was my participation, as a founder the foremost industry experts, pioneers enthusiasm that I was faced with. With Board member, in the creation of the and leaders. I also saw an opportunity to the help of the SIGTTO Secretariat, I Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) note the industry signposts for change, broke down and categorised the feedback as a sister organisation to the Society. growth and diversity - to look forwards for assessment by the GPC. Committee In 2013 the SIGTTO Board took the and set a path for the GPC to influence deliberations, in turn, led to a prioritised, momentous decision to establish SGMF and guide the exciting and emerging long-term plan which was headlined in order to address the safe application changes currently taking place in the by the creation of the first SIGTTO GPC of gas-fuelled propulsion for vessels that marine transport of liquefied gas. Subcommittee. The new group, dealing are not gas carriers. Until recently, LNG Rapid technological advances have with floating gas terminals, necessitated carriers were virtually the only ships to added a portfolio of new subjects to a revision to the GPC constitution to utilise gas as a propulsion system fuel. those that have traditionally filled the enable its inclusion. I am indebted to The chance to help replace heavy fuel oil Committee’s industry best practice the SIGTTO Board for their indulgence, in ship propulsion systems, as part of the development agenda. New topics include flexibility and support in allowing me to drive to reduce atmospheric emissions, by floating gas terminals, small-scale gas change some of GPC’s longest established creating a whole new Society from scratch shipping, propulsion system advances, constitutional ways of working. was an exciting, if challenging, undertaking. refinements in cargo-handling equipment So what of the future? In addition to The SIGTTO Board and Secretariat have and systems and future decarbonising contributing to and rigorously maintaining played a key role in setting SGMF on a concepts of the type with which I’ve been the enviable safety record of gas shipping successful path as a viable, credible and involved with at Shell. In my GPC Chair and terminalling attributable directly to sustainable industry association. The SIGTTO role I also need to be able to recognise past and present GPC members – a weighty commitment covered the early development and leverage the paths ploughed by honour that the present GPC carries - the meetings where the new organisation and my industry colleagues in their new environmental and decarbonisation its employees were established; growing businesses that involve these new topics. agenda will grow and dominate. its Board of Directors; and developing I decided to undertake a survey of Building on our early leadership and its bye laws and articles of association. SIGTTO’s GPC membership in order involvement in these sectors and having I’m happy to say that I’m still a member to gauge their views on what are the helped contribute to the development of the SGMF Board of Directors and that, important and urgent subjects and themes of emerging standards such as the IMO’s six years on, the organisation is now in the growing gas shipping business Interim Recommendations for the Carriage stronger than ever despite some initial that we should be looking at. Any new of Liquid Hydrogen in Bulk 2016, GPC is survival worries. The birth pangs in the areas agreed and incorporated in the setting the foundations to lead the way early years were due to concerns that SGMF GPC working agenda would then have in guiding safe and sustainable use and might fail to attract sufficient members to align with a revised SIGTTO strategy application in many of these areas. but the initiative has continued to gain with key performance indicators (KPIs) to Having had some exciting and strength and momentum ever since, demonstrate and illuminate this alignment. valuable times with SIGTTO and its GPC, bearing testimony to SIGTTO’s original I wasn’t sure how this canvassing my passion for a fit-for-future SIGTTO

Image Courtesy Of HySTRA Image Courtesy vision of the need for such a body. exercise might develop, but I need GPC direction continues to grow.

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 93 Global leader for liquefied gas solutions

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EverSteel™-X BV and DSME colleagues together on the occasion of the naming of the four Teekay-managed Arc 7 icebreaking LNGCs at the yard in April 2019 in today’s market, has increased the need for greater built-in flexibility in terms of ship size, propulsion systems and cargo management. This is where we at Bureau Veritas (BV) now spend a lot of time as a classification society. Our experts help clients find the right ship design solution, addressing the related safety, regulatory and risk aspects as part of the exercise.

BV focus on gas Liquefied gas has been a focus for BV from the very beginning of the transport of such cargoes by sea and we have never stopped investing time and effort in the sector. We can look back with some pride on an industry where safety always came first and the sector’s track record in safety speaks for itself. BV was often first in classification terms in the seaborne carriage and marine storage of LNG. This was partly based on the initial leadership of France in LNG ship construction and in the design of LNG containment systems. It is true to say Bringing class to that the leadership in the construction of LNGCs has shifted over the years, from France first to the US, followed by Japan bear in maintaining and, now, Korea while China is currently building a growing presence in the sector. Throughout this movement of the LNGC safe operations construction axis, BV has remained to the fore wherever the ships are built. After the early prototype LNG Bruno Dabouis* of Bureau Veritas examines containment system technologies were investigated, two dominant families rapidly the challenges facing a leading LNGC class emerged. These were the French membrane society as it keeps pace with developments type containment systems proposed by Gaz Transport and by Technigaz on the one and advances in an ever-evolving sector hand and, on the other, the self-supporting IMO Type B tank systems developed by he seaborne carriage of LNG - Finding the right balance Moss in Norway and IHI in Japan. The ongoing now for more than 50 If the evolution of marine LNG has been Moss technology embraces spherical cargo years - has only been enabled by marked by levels of creativity, particularly tanks while the IHI tanks are prismatic T significant levels of creativity. in containment and propulsion systems, in shape, as indicated by the company’s We have gone from prototype LNG carriers the most significant is the relationship Self-supporting, Prismatic-shape, IMO that looked like general cargo vessels, e.g. between the two. How do you find the Type B (IHI SPB) name for its design. Beauvais, a converted Liberty ship which right balance between retaining cargo Today, Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT), was fitted with three small independent and consuming boil-off gas? How do the merged entity of the two original LNG tanks for testing purposes in 1962, you most efficiently allow for flexibility French companies, promotes its NO96 to modern icebreaking LNG carriers in charter markets so that, for example, and Mark III membrane tank containment with podded propulsion systems. a ship can change routes and terminals systems. The two variants are extremely To take natural gas, and reduce its to adapt to a new operating pattern? popular and either one of the two systems volume 600 times by liquefying it, before In the early days, with ships contracted is being installed in most ships being shipping it across the oceans at a cryogenic for long periods – for an LNGC to built and entering operation today. temperature, was a major undertaking that spend 20-25 years on a specific route BV classed the first Korean-built required a significant leap in technology was not unusual, individual ships membrane LNG carrier, the 130,600 development to get started and then could be tailor-made for the specific m3, 1995-built Hanjin Pyeong Taek, and subsequently to evolve over the last 50 requirements of seller and buyer. Ship the first dual-fuel diesel-electric (DFDE) years. To have had the opportunity to speed, voyage duration and quantity of LNG carrier, Global Energy, delivered witness, and play some small part in, the landed cargo were pre-determined. in 2004. BV was again first with the evolution of LNG carriers from the start of However, the emergence of more introduction of floating gas terminals, my career in the mid-1980s has certainly speculative newbuilding orders covered classing both the inaugural floating made for an interesting working life. by relatively short term charter contracts storage and regasification unit (FSRU), >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 95 ship and barge configurations and the conditions where the choice of a storage- only unit works best. The new rules have helped keep BV prepared and ready to handle a full range of enquiries as the demand for floating gas terminals grows. Meanwhile, on the LNGC propulsion system front, the evolution from steam turbine ships to DFDE-powered vessels and now two-stroke, gas-powered ships has been relatively quick and delivered significant advances in efficiency. However, the search for optimal systems in terms of overall ship efficiency continues, and the key issue remains the relationship between propulsion and containment. For example, does an LNGC need a reliquefaction plant, or can the owners BV has classed the 263,000 m3 MOL FSRU Challenger, the and charterers manage without one? largest floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) ever built The LNGC market continues to expand in tandem with the increasing demand for cleaner fuels. At the same time that there > the 138,100 m3, 2005-built Excelsior, the success of the icebreaking LNGC design. are some major orders for conventional-size and the first floating LNG production The podded propulsion, hull structure, LNG carriers in prospect, interest in small- (FLNG) vessel, Tango FLNG, in 2013. containment system, winterisation scale LNG and the LNG supply chain is also features and issues related to vibration being extended. The LNG industry faces Ice class challenge all had to be addressed and their inter- important decisions going forward and BV In 2017 BV classed the 263,000 m3 MOL dependencies recognised and understood. stands ready to help stakeholders make FSRU Challenger, the largest FSRU ever The joint classification partnership the best safety and commercial decisions. built and, most recently and jointly with the Russian Register, with which BV KOTUG is proud to be an integral part of Shell Prelude’s FLNG operational team. KOTUG with the Russian Register, the 15 Arc enjoys excellent relations, has been a key Key SIGTTO role provides highly skilled marine services with our best-in-class Rotortug® Inﬁ eld Support Vessels 7 ice class LNG carriers contracted to factor in achieving a successful outcome, From the perspective of BV as a class (ISV’s) setting a new industry benchmark. load cargoes at the Yamal terminal in not least by combining the Russian ice society, SIGTTO has played a major role in the Russian Arctic. The latter are the expertise with BV’s structures and gas establishing and reinforcing industry best first icebreaking LNGCs ever built. leadership. Testing of the Arc 7 design at practices for the liquefied gas sector over the In the autumn of 2019 the 15-ship Aker Arctic’s ice towing tank in Finland past four decades. The Society’s openness, newbuilding phase should be completed was another critical area of activity. high level of technical understanding on a project that many, perhaps, thought Although the Bureau Veritas Arc 7 and goodwill of the membership have AHEAD would not see the light of day. The site team at Daewoo Shipbuilding & been instrumental to its success. Arc 7 LNGC construction programme Marine Engineering (DSME), the builder An important step was taken in 2004 is yet another demonstration of the of all 15 ships, is not yet winding down, when SIGTTO membership eligibility was creativity that has characterised the they are perhaps more relaxed than opened to class societies. The step proved IN TOWAGE development of seaborne LNG. they were. A massive undertaking, to be mutually beneficial by creating a new WWW.KOTUG.COM ■ HARBOUR TOWAGE ■ TERMINAL TOWAGE ■ OFFSHORE & SALVAGE ■ CHARTERING ■ MARITIME EXCELLENCE Construction of the Yamal vessels has the ship construction programme has two-way dialogue. The availability of the HQ ROTTERDAM - WILHEMINAKADE 318 - 3072 AR - ROTTERDAM - +31 (0)10 217 0217 - [email protected] involved a number of significant LNG benefitted from the excellent feedback experience of SIGTTO members has helped shipping industry firsts. Notable amongst on the classification aspects received class develop its rules and guidelines in an these is the combination of icebreaking from both yard and the owners and appropriate manner while the preparation capability (including stern-first operations the aforementioned close cooperation of the Society’s best practice guidance in heavy ice), winterisation features and between BV and the Russian Register. publications has similarly gained advantage podded propulsion with which the ships from the in-depth experience of class. have been provided. The Yamal ships Responding to The close elationshipr between SIGTTO are designed to operate not only in the evolving technologies and class societies proved particularly some of the harshest conditions to be BV continues to refine and upgrade its rule useful in 2008 when IMO sanctioned a found anywhere but also as conventional regime across a number of other fronts to SIGTTO-led industry initiative to undertake LNGCs in ice-free waters. The size of keep pace with evolving technologies. For a major revision of the International Gas the ships, at 299 metres in length, 50 example, our class society recently issued Carrier (IGC) Code. IMO’s adoption of metres in breadth and a cargo-carrying its first set of dedicated FSRU and floating the updated Code, after several years of capacity of 172,000 m3, required that storage unit (FSU) rules the need to cater intense activity by a range of working they be capable of fully autonomous, for the different technical and regulatory groups, was the rewarding outcome of i.e. escort-free, operations in ice. options opening up today for operators this industry-wide cooperative effort. As a result, providing an assurance that in the floating gas terminal sector. the risks, including the ability to navigate Options considered by the rules * Bruno Dabouis is vice president, autonomously in ice, could be effectively encompass conversions versus newbuild South Europe and North America with addressed was always going to be vital to facilities, nearshore and offshore locations, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore

96 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication KOTUG CONGRATULATES SIGTTO

KOT19007_ADV_A4_WT3.indd 1 21-06-19 12:24 KOTUG is proud to be an integral part of Shell Prelude’s FLNG operational team. KOTUG provides highly skilled marine services with our best-in-class Rotortug® Inﬁ eld Support Vessels (ISV’s) setting a new industry benchmark. AHEAD IN TOWAGE WWW.KOTUG.COM ■ HARBOUR TOWAGE ■ TERMINAL TOWAGE ■ OFFSHORE & SALVAGE ■ CHARTERING ■ MARITIME EXCELLENCE HQ ROTTERDAM - WILHEMINAKADE 318 - 3072 AR - ROTTERDAM - +31 (0)10 217 0217 - [email protected]

KOTUG CONGRATULATES SIGTTO

KOT19007_ADV_A4_WT3.indd 1 21-06-19 12:24 LNG sellers and buyers have three shipping options available to them

Joint-venture partner risk Risk in LNG projects Typically, large LNG projects are initially developed by joint ventures (JVs). Clearly, there is some level of risk introduced Bill Wayne*, SIGTTO’s seventh as to whether the JV partners can fulfil General Manager, outlines the their commitments to the project, be they related to financing, provision of expertise key elements of risk attendant or even personnel. Before entering into on mounting an LNG project a JV partnership, some due diligence investigations on potential partners is or any large-scale project, the and such like, to the provision of a secure essential in order to mitigate the risk main decisions are driven by living and working environment for staff. of non-performance by a partner. economic factors, but behind There is also a anger of challenges One of the common ways of managing F these major decisions lie a raft which may arise around management some of the host country risks is to invite of perceptions of ‘risk’ issues. All business of the expectations of the political elite, local companies, possibly state-owned, ventures entail some risk and one of the business community and the general to participate in a JV. Typically at some the key requirements for managers is to public. Management of these critical risks stage, usually around the time of the understand and mitigate these risks. is best approached by a concerted effort final investment decision (FID), the joint In major LNG projects these risks to know and understand the political venture is incorporated to form a project naturally divide under various headings. system in the host country and to assess company. It is important that the interests These are discussed in turn below, carefully the strengths and weaknesses of the partners are closely aligned by the beginning with the most significant. It is of all the ‘players’ in the country. Good time the project company is established. also important to understand that each practice is to prepare a detailed ‘Stakeholder risk category should not be considered Engagement Plan’ so that the issues Counter-party risk in isolation; there can be complex can be addressed systematically. As previously noted, LNG projects are interactions between the risks and the mainly underwritten by long-term sales impact may differ for the various partners. Market price risk contracts with gas buyers. Typically, buyers The major revenue stream comes from are state-owned, or former state-owned, Host country risk the sale of LNG. World commodity prices major utility companies. While undoubtedly The highest risks for a project may lie in this seem to be increasingly volatile. This companies of some substance, there is category. For a major undertaking like an introduces uncertainty when assessing no absolute guarantee that their market LNG project the promotors are exposed to a future revenue flows from major LNG predictions are correct and that they can range of risks and uncertainties. These run projects. These risks are to some extent always take the full contracted quantities. from the fundamental political stability of mitigated by long-term sales contracts, Some counter-party risks are mitigated the host country through risks associated with some pricing mechanisms embedded by ‘take or pay’ clauses. However, there with the ability of the country’s government therein. These mechanisms typically is nothing to say that a major company and society to support such a project in have the effect of smoothing out rapid cannot go bankrupt and disappear – terms of legal environment, banking swings but may have less impact on and in such circumstances it would be services, communications, infrastructure long-term depression in the market. problematic to enforce a ‘take or pay’

98 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication clause on a bankrupt company! Gas supply risks If the FOB route is taken, then the There must be a ommonc position Normally, gas reserves are proved up for the partners need to assess the capabilities of among the seller partners on such aspects duration of the planned LNG project prior the buyer and the risk of non-performance as incorporating destination flexibility to FID. If the project is the sole or the major of the buyer’s shipping arrangements. terms in the sales contracts and the effect offtaker from the gas fields, the risk of And, as is the case for LNG plants, beware these may have on the risk profile and the supply failure is mainly risk of a technical of ‘no novel technology’ strictures. sales price. The best protection is a clear nature and should be low. However, if, for understanding of your counter-parties instance, the same resource is supplying Technical risks and their business models, coupled with a growing domestic market, there may during operations having a diverse range of buyers. be a political risk to the continuity of Technical risks during operations tend supply to the LNG project. This is really a to fall into two categories: mechanical Financing risks subset of the ‘host country risk’, but can failure and/or operator error. The Typically, major JV LNG projects use have a major impact on the project. expectation is that the LNG plants and ‘non-recourse’ financing, i.e. bank loans, associated shipping must be operated to to pay for the projects. In demonstrating LNG carrier design and the highest standards since the smallest the financeability of the project, the construction - technical risk hitch can lead to shutdowns and costly partners will need to convince the The LNGC design and construction delays to the production schedule. lending banks that the risks as set out process is well established and the risks For mitigation of the mechanical in this document are understood and should be considered as low compared failure risk, the best strategy is to take mitigated as far as reasonably practical. with those set out above. One key choice care when selecting machinery and to One risk that often gets overlooked is which is different from that of the LNG institute effective planned maintenance that of the security of the banks themselves. plant is that of whether the project will schemes. For the operational mishap risk, Prior to the bank crash of 2008, large banks own and manage the ships themselves or the mitigation lies with careful selection were generally thought of as infallible but contract out to a third party ownership/ and training of staff, coupled with effective the crash proved otherwise. Therefore, the management. A third option is to go for operation manuals and guidance. JV partners should do some due diligence free-on-board (FOB) contracts, where the investigation on the lending banks, not gas buyer effectively takes the responsibility Conclusions only the lead banks but also the second for the shipping arrangements. This brief note has examined the risks tier or mezzanine lenders. It only takes one This decision may be driven by inherent in LNG projects and suggests hiccough at a critical moment in a syndicated an analysis of risk. If a project has appropriate mitigation strategies. The loan for the whole loan to collapse. no significant LNG marine operator risks cover a wide range of potential experience among its partners, then the consequences, from those that can threaten LNG plant design and logic tends to drive the project towards the viability of the project, such as those construction - technical risk third party arrangements via either under host country risk, to those which LNG plant design is well established and some sort of charter agreement with an can be broadly banded into technology the risks in this area are largely mitigated experienced third party ship operator or and operational risks, which are relatively by strong project management coupled with a ship management group. If either minor compared with the former. with careful selection of contractors. There of these options are chosen, due diligence is a well-established plant realisation investigations must be performed on * This is Bill Wayne’s second contribution to process, starting off with a front-end the parties contracting to the project. this issue. His CV can be found on page 40. engineering and design (FEED) study and progressing through to an engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contract, with a number of variations. The contractors typically form consortia for major LNG projects. The project developers will need to look at each proposed consortia to ensure that the necessary skills and experience are available to the project. One common occurrence is for a project partner (or a lending bank) to make some statement, maybe in the form of a requirement for a covenant, along the lines that their support is predicated on the employment of ‘no novel technology’. This is usually a mistake. Because design development tends to be evolutionary in nature rather than occurring as major technology leaps, the makers of such statements may be committing the project to repeating known errors made on other similar recent projects. The project should have its own technical resource to assess any such proposals for ‘novel technology’. Host country risks hold the greatest potential to upset the smooth running of an LNG project

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predated the start of STS operations in either the LPG or LNG sectors The call of the sea - The convening of an ICS study group on linked ship/shore emergency shutdown (ESD) systems and, in particular, on the and the allure of gas very fast closure requirements for gas ship ESD valves laid down in the inaugural IGC Code. The initiative resulted in a relaxation Chris Clucas*, Chair of many a SIGTTO of time allowed for ESD valve closure, meeting, looks back on a wide-ranging career thus reducing the risk of pressure surge. One of the ICS study group was Robin that should inspire potential newcomers Gray, who later became SIGTTO’s second considering a commitment to liquefied gases General Manager and who took the idea and developed it into the ‘SIGTTO Link’. ike many a Manxman – my (STCW) Convention. Once we had finished birthplace is Douglas on the the IGC Code, the Lakey Group had the From cryogenics to LPG Isle of Man – I guess the call of task of writing the syllabus for STCW’s At the age of 25 I decided to return to L the sea exerted a pull on me Basic and Advanced Gas Courses. The the hallowed halls of higher learning, to from the outset. During my undergraduate most recent update to the Convention Southampton University for a postgraduate studies in chemistry at the University of contains much the same gas courses, so degree at its venerable Institute of Sheffield, I worked during the summer it looks like we produced a sound base. Cryogenics. Particularly inspiring on months on the Dover/Calais ferries. Recognising the need for a document this course was the opportunity to Following graduation, good fortune that colleges could work with to develop gas apply the cryogenic principles we had brought me to the International Chamber of courses for the industry, ICS produced the learned in the classroom in the Institute’s Shipping (ICS) in London. The foundation new Tanker Safety Guide (Liquefied Gas). laboratories. Amongst other things, we stones for my career path were set. This complemented existing ICS guides for liquefied nitrogen, helium and LNG, the oil and chemical tankers, and I compiled the latter using mains supply natural gas. Invaluable start main text as well as the special appendices A contact made at the Cryogenics My background in science took me to and cargo data sheets. These were conceived Institute led to my next job, with the Low work in the chemical tanker section at as background training material for Temperature Engineering Group of British ICS, a department which also covered people joining the industry who wished Gas in London and work on the design of liquefied gas carriers. After a couple of to gain an understanding of gas-handling peak-shaving liquefaction plants. Such gas ship meetings, including with the principles, especially the application of gas facilities liquefy mains natural gas during ‘Lakey Group’ that was writing the original laws and the laws of thermodynamics. the quiet summer months and regasify the International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code, I LNG in the winter season to meet high peak was smitten with liquefied gas shipping. Highlights of my time at demands. Unfortunately for the project, Bob Lakey had assembled an amazing ICS include the following: the discovery of large volumes of North group of industry experts to compile - Working with the Gastech conference Sea gas at the time reduced interest in LNG the Code. Their achievement owes much in its very early days - I am still an peak-shaving but the experience of working to his persuasive personality as well as active supporter to this day! with such an expert team was highly his excellent grasp of the whole subject. - Admission to the memberships of educational for a young process engineer. Although I was the junior of the pack, Bob the Institute of Marine Engineers Around that time I was approached latched on to my fresh qualifications and and the Institute of Refrigeration by the boss of Copenhagen-based Kosan involved me in the work of compiling the - Persuading ICS and the Oil Companies Tankers, a pioneering LPG carrier operator, special requirements for individual cargoes. International Marine Forum (OCIMF) to to sound out my interest in working for The other major IMO project at the time jointly develop a Ship-to-Ship Transfer him. I had first met him as a fellow member was the development of the Standards of Guide for Liquefied Gas, following on of the Lakey Group and was intrigued by Training Certification and Watchkeeping from the oil STS booklet; this initiative Kosan, the gas supplier to the Isle of Man >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 101 I developed the on board training courses run on the 35,000 m3 Annabella as she carried LNG cargoes from North Africa to Spain

> and many other exotic locations as well as shore storage plant and distribution duties. various Schulte Group shore offices, and the operator of the first purpose-built LPG During the following eight years I helped developing the on board courses run on carrier, which I looked after for a while. build up the LPG road tanker distribution the 35,000 m3 Annabella, an LNG carrier I packed my bags for Denmark and my trade; construct new storage tanks; install trading between North Africa and Spain arrival coincided with a fleet expansion a jetty-mounted loading arm to replace - Developing an LNG course for BP programme. One of my first jobs was the the hoses used previously; extend the LPG Shipping that integrated classroom design and construction of two new semi- cylinder filling facility; and provide a major and a specially developed liquid cargo ref vessels, to which we fitted ‘cascade’ new distribution main to serve the growing operations simulator (LICOS) reliquefaction plants provided by Liquefied area around Douglas. And, of course, I - Newbuilding cargo plant design for various Gas Equipment (LGE) to handle high- stayed in contact with the company’s LPG semi-ref LPG, ethylene and LNG carriers ethane C3 cargoes. Some 35 years ahead carriers that regularly delivered our fuel. - Developing training courses of their time, the ships proved to be a In the late 1980s several ship managers and ‘entry into LNG’ schemes for great experience for a process designer. opened offices on the Isle of Man. One of companies new to the industry these, Dorchester Maritime, part of the - Investigating different cargo-handling There were many memorable Schulte Group, was looking for someone simulators and implementing their use experiences during my time with who understood the operation of semi- across the Schulte Group training centres Kosan Tankers, notably: ref LPG carriers, and my successful - Developing the ‘ride-on’ ship-handling - Selling several older ships and application signaled the start of some LNG carrier scale model at Ilawa buying newer vessels second-hand 28 years with this organisation. Centre in Poland to assist deck officers - Repairing a pressure vessel cargo tank At the time Dorchester Maritime looked in learning the differences between where deep cracks were found in the after several elderly LPG carriers, the most LPG and LNG carrier manoeuvring dished-end circumferential welds difficult of which had been built at the - Making training films with - Upgrading the cargo pumps on La Ciotat yard in France by another old Videotel to explain the chemistry many of the older ships, which Lakey Group friend. A series of phone calls and physics of liquefied gases called for some ingenuity enabled us to get to the bottom of several - Patenting a cargo boil-off gas (BOG) - Managing a nearshore grounding incident mysteries, including the extensive use of control system for LNG carriers which involved the offloading of LPG cargo loose-fill perlite insulation around the involving azipod propulsion to road tankers using long hose strings independent prismatic fully refrigerated - Participating in industry events such - Working closely with the chartering cargo tanks. This had been a retrofit to as Gastech; a Gastech high spot was the department to optimise cargo- overcome the excessive boil-off gas rate founding of the ‘Young Gastech’ section handling procedures and improve caused by the yard’s decision to insulate to interest new entrants to our industry commercial performance the inner hull rather than the cargo tanks. - Working as an expert witness and - Introducing Burckhardt compressors to The professors at Southampton taught consultant for various third-party clients the fleet, which had previously only used us to always consider heat transfer by - Joining SIGTTO Working Groups, Panels oil-lubricated, piston-type compressors convection as well as conduction. and the General Purposes Committee - Assisting in the establishment of the new Back to Man My work at Dorchester Maritime, Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) and Family priorities indicated a return to the which was renamed Bernhard becoming the Society’s inaugural president Isle of Man but I was able to remain with the Schulte Shipmanagement in Kosan Group, thanks to an opening with the 2008, included the following: On retiring from full-time BSM employment local company Kosangas (IoM) Ltd on LPG - Setting up and teaching gas courses in at BSM, I established my own consultancy

102 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication company and continue my expert DC. If she hadn’t I might have soon operating the vessel at reduced speed as witness and training activities as well been enjoying an extended vacation at a result. It is interesting to note that the as work with BSM as required. In 2018 Guantanamo Bay. My daughter’s picture first LNG-fired, two-stroke propulsion I was privileged to receive two Lifetime was actually of my dog ... although, to be systems featured a single engine and were Achievement Awards, one from the Gastech fair, it was an American spaniel and it was fitted not on an LNG carrier but, rather, organisation and the other from Riviera indeed a very recent photo. And the message the two 3,100 TEU container/ro-ro (con- Maritime Media’s Ship/Shore Interface never said the recent photo had to be of me! ro) vessels that TOTE operates on the Conference. Even my long-suffering wife route between Florida and Puerto Rico. was impressed with those honours! Semantics count As we know, the seaborne transport At another SIGTTO Panel Meeting there was of LNG is an orderly process with an SIGTTO tales an animated discussion about the pros and outstanding safety record. A veteran gas The serious business of liquefied gas cons of diesel-powered LNG carriers. While ship master once told me he is often asked shipping is not without its amusing asides gas-burning, medium-speed engines were in “Is it exciting on board an LNG carrier?”. and some of my most abiding memories sight then, the prospect of two-stroke, dual- His stock reply is “If it gets exciting, it involve SIGTTO get-togethers, not least fuel machinery was rather further over the means we have done something wrong!” because they involve large groups of great horizon. Nevertheless, experienced shipping It is salutary to also remember the people from diverse backgrounds. people who had used these machines for equally wise words of an LPG master At one Panel Meeting the delegates had years on other types of commercial vessels of similar vast experience who was gathered in the hotel lobby after a busy were extolling the virtues, especially the fuel attending a gas course as a ‘refresher’. day of presentations, looking forward economy. At which point, one exasperated He sagely told his fellow students with great anticipation to our scheduled LNGC operator exclaimed, “I do not want a that “it is only if we ever forget that river cruise, gala dinner and, of course, slow-speed diesel LNG carrier; all my ships liquefied gas cargoes are dangerous ‘refreshments’. Unfortunately, both SIGTTO must be able to do 19.5 knots!” Amidst that they become really dangerous”. and our host were under the impression the silence that ensued, I made a mental Looking back over the various twists that the other had organised the coaches to note to describe such machinery as “a and turns along the professional road since get us across town to the cruise vessel jetty. low-rpm, two-stroke propulsion system” joining the Chamber of Shipping in 1973, When the awful realisation dawned, in future for the benefit of a sometimes- I can honestly say it has always been a the legendary resourcefulness of seafarers isolated LNG shipping community. fascinating journey. Maybe it’s because my quickly kicked in. With such delights During a similar discussion an science-inspired curiosity finds outlets in awaiting, and in a city with a plentiful experienced naval architect opined that unusual ways. Maybe not surprisingly, I was supply of taxis, we were all on board before to achieve the same reliability as a single- known as the ‘the Scientist’ by some of the anyone could say “down the hatch”. I’m shaft steam turbine system, any two-stroke more polite ship staff I worked with, while pleased to report that we then enjoyed diesel powered LNGC would need to have several of my colleagues during my student a particularly memorable evening and twin propulsion units. Over coffee I asked days called me ‘the Sailor’. Adaptability is coaches were awaiting our return to take us him to elaborate and he patiently explained often noted as a trait of the Manx people. back to our hotel. Most people had probably that steam turbines had independent high forgotten all about the earlier glitch. and low-pressure stages. If one developed a * Chris Clucas has contributed two articles On another occasion, a SIGTTO GPC fault, then it could be bypassed and the ship to this issue. The other article, on page 72, meeting I was chairing in Houston, we could at least continue at reduced speed. deals with technical issues and SIGTTO had the honour of a visit by the Admiral He seemed blissfully unaware of the work. Any opinions expressed by the of the US Coast Guard (USCG). The senior possibility of isolating individual cylinders author are personal and do not necessarily people from our side were invited to meet on a large two-stroke engine and, again, represent those of his previous employers. him personally at a private function, an arrangement that required us to clear various security hurdles, including “Has anyone thought about who will be organising the filling in lots of different forms attesting coaches for tonight’s dinner and river boat trip?” to our standing as upright citizens. Just when we thought the entire process was finished, we received a last- minute, panic e-mail from Linda Murray, SIGTTO’s Secretary in London, stating that the Coast Guard had requested “a recent photo” from each of us. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but us Manx people have a wicked sense of humour. By this time some of us were already in Houston. Minutes earlier my daughter had e-mailed me a wonderful picture from home, so I quickly forwarded this portrait on to the SIGTTO Secretariat in London. Fortunately, Linda was most resourceful, double-checking my ‘portrait’ rather than simply forwarding it on to USCG Supreme Command Headquarters in Washington,

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 103 Congratulations SIGTTO on 40 years of promoting safety in LNG shipping and terminal operations.

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Sempra LNG is proud to partner with organizations that share our sense of responsibility. We are honored to be a member of the Society of International Gas Tanker SempraLNG.com and Terminal Operators.

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International Registries (U.K.) Limited in affiliation with the Marshall Islands Maritime & Corporate Administrators following major modification work, as floating LNG production (FLNG) vessels. During my initial year at NGSCO I had my first contact with SIGTTO, attending a Panel Meeting in Boston and participating in a technical visit to the Everett terminal, the first US LNG import facility. Following on from this introduction to the Society, and while still with NGSCO, I attended all the SIGTTO Panel Meetings. One of these was held at Bontang on the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. Although Bontang played host to what was then the world’s largest LNG export terminal, My liquefied gas career started out on the LPG 25 years ago I remember it being a carrier Gas Enterprise, BP’s only gas ship back in 1990 particularly difficult place to travel to. Into the inner sanctum All that contact with the Society must have rubbed off because at the end of 1997 I was seconded to SIGTTO as a The call of the Technical Adviser. The General Manager at the time was Alain Vaudolon, followed a year later by John Gyles. The two were very different characters but both ‘SIGTTO’ wild! most effective in their own inimitable ways. Sadly, both are now deceased. As Marc Hopkins explains, the Society has When I joined the Society, all communication with members was either exerted quite a pull on him over his gas by fax or post. The agendas for all Panel shipping career; amongst other things, he’s and General Purposes Committee (GPC) meetings were printed and then copied served as a Technical Adviser and chaired and sent out to every member in advance. Panel Meetings and the General Purposes Committee SIGTTO was Kall Kwik’s best customer, with innumerable boxes of copied papers started my career in 1970 as a this LPG veteran was the first Allied ship, being delivered and then posted. We had deck cadet with BP Tanker Co, including navy vessels, into the Northern a franking machine that calculated the joining my first ship at the old BP Gulf, to load at Juaymah in Saudi Arabia, postage for worldwide delivery and it I oil refinery on the Isle of Grain after Iraq invaded Kuwait persuaded me had to be ‘funded’ with several thousand in Kent in a thunderstorm and dressed that it was time to find a shoreside job. pounds prior to each postage event. in full uniform. I don’t think that any When I first came ashore, I became BP Because the only internet access was first-trip cadet, at the time, realised that Shipping’s ‘gas expert’. Whilst engaged ‘dial up’, only one person at a time could full uniform was not compulsory! with other marine tasks, I managed to access the internet. There were constant I continued my seagoing career with BP, complete sea trials on two of the new cries about the office to the effect of “Who through company name and employment NWSSSC LNG carriers. In 1994 I was is online?” and “Let me know when you changes, until 1990. The majority of my seconded to Abu Dhabi’s National Gas come off!” During my tenure as Technical time was spent in the oil fleet, mainly Shipping Company (NGSCO), a shipping Adviser we were fortunate to be able on product carriers, with the final four company established to manage a new to upgrade arrangements through the years of my seagoing career as master. fleet of LNG carriers on behalf of Abu provision of a server with high-speed access My last trip as master was on the ‘world Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Co (ADGAS). throughout the office, a new website and a famous’ LPG carrier Gas Enterprise. I also continued to operate the existing new logo. The overall office environment ADGAS fleet while the newbuildings itself was given a millennial boost through Gas ship expert were under construction, and all the LNG revamped decorations and furnishings. At the time the 70,500 m3 Gas Enterprise vessels with which I’d had contact up I led the information technology (IT) was BP Shipping’s only gas ship. This was until that point were spherical tank ships. aspect of the upgrade and became, officially, immediately prior to the arrival of the first The then existing ADGAS fleet comprised a Microsoft network administrator and 127,500 m3 LNG carriers for the North Hilli, Gimi, Khannur, Golar Freeze and ‘help desk’. The current website looks very West Shelf Shipping Services Company Norman Lady. All these fine ships were similar to the one we set up in the late 1990s (NWSSSC) fleet and the management of built in the 1970s and all but one are still and the logo that was developed during the Northwest Shearwater by BP Shipping. in service, although not as conventional this transitional period remains the same. My experience on Gas Enterprise was LNG carriers. Two of the quintet have The addition of the ebsitew a series of ‘adventures’, including being been converted into floating storage and revolutionised SIGTTO’s communications caught in two typhoons, one at sea and regasification units (FSRUs) while the with its members. Initially, meeting one at anchor, immobilised. The fact that other two are enjoying a new lease of life, papers were put on to CDs and sent in >

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 105 > the mail but before long we transitioned the BG Group was coordinated from its focus was on the performance of secondary to posting the material to the web, saving Houston office, there were only three and primary barriers on Technigaz Mark time and postal costs in the process. or four people on site at the time. I was III LNG carriers, where some problems In addition to my IT responsibilities made responsible for the operations had arisen concerning the proper I was involved in the preparation of a of the fleet and marine terminals. bonding of the materials involved and number of publications during my time as Our team grew as the fleet expanded deformation of the primary barrier. a Technical Adviser. Some of these are still rapidly, from two owned vessels – the around today, either in their original form 71,500 m3 Methane Arctic and Methane Into the GPC hot seat or updated. They include Site Selection and Polar - and four, time-chartered LNG As soon as I joined BG my involvement with Design for LNG Ports and Jetties, an industry carriers – again Hilli, Gimi, Khannur SIGTTO escalated once again, to a marked study on Lifeboat Safety and Passage and Golar Freeze – to over 32 ships by degree! In 2005 I was nominated to the GPC Planning Guide - Straits of Malacca and 2011. Of the vessels in the 2011 fleet, 12 and became GPC Chair in the same year, Singapore. The latter was compiled after were owned. Also, BG was operating the remaining in this position for the next six some SIGTTO members had experienced Elba Island, Georgia and Lake Charles, years. I thoroughly enjoyed this renewed near-misses with their gas carriers Louisiana terminals at the time and by involvement with the Society and was able while transiting the Singapore Straits. 2007 both facilities had become extremely to see some major SIGTTO projects through Starting in 1997, I also represented busy, with Lake Charles alone discharging to implementation. Although I stepped SIGTTO at IMO. Perhaps most notable a record of 17 ships per month. down as GPC Chair in 2010, I continued was my participation in the Ballast Water Between 2005 and 2011 BG was also to serve on the Committee until 2016. Management Committee. It has taken 20 involved, either as a partner or offtaker, One of the GPC projects we brought years for IMO to develop and bring an with the startup of liquefaction terminals to fruition was the ship-to-ship (STS) agreed Ballast Water Convention into force! in Equatorial Guinea and at Idku and transfer of LNG. I remember a very heated Damietta in Egypt. On the regasification discussion at our meeting in Barcelona Moving towards the US phase terminal side of the equation BG served as in 2007 which lasted about seven hours. Following my time with SIGTTO, I either a partner or supplier to the Quintero Many questioned a proposal to call the returned to BP to assist the company’s facility in Chile, Dragon in the UK and industry best practice guidance we were LNG development team with new projects. Singapore LNG. BG’s presence at these developing STS Guidelines as the industry These included Atlantic LNG, Taichung, various terminals required a considerable at that point had had no experience of Guangdong, Damietta, Angola, Bilbao, AES amount of assistance and oversight. commercial STS operations and thus the Andres and the restart of the Cove Point During my time with BG I also word ‘guidelines’ was inappropriate. import terminal on the US East Coast. chaired the Shipping Committee of the After a heated back-and-forth discussion, There asw also an involvement with Washington, DC-based Center for LNG I suggested that instead of STS Guidelines a number of proposed US LNG import (CLNG), advocating the safety of LNG we could call them ‘STS Considerations’. projects, two of which, Crown Landing shipping operations in the US , as well The proposal was passed, unanimously, and Pelican Island, became public. as the ‘Membrane Owners Group’. The and these Considerations were eventually Although these possible additional US latter informal, international working incorporated into the OCIMF/SIGTTO/ICS schemes called for much development group was formed because there was publication Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for work, they never materialised. Even at no consensus across the license holder, Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases. that stage it was becoming apparent that classification society and shipowner Throughout ym GPC time there was the anticipated surge in US LNG imports spectrum on issues relating to membrane a concern at the rapid expansion of the was not going to materialise to quite the tank containment systems. Our particular LNG shipping industry and the dilution extent envisaged. In any case far more import terminals had been proposed than would actually be needed. Outgoing GPC Chair Marc Hopkins During this BP project work my (left) receiving a gift from his involvement with SIGTTO was limited. successor Chris Clucas in 2011 However, I was fortunate enough to attend a Panel Meeting in San Francisco and the attendant technical visit to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys where the end results of their famous GTL (Grapes- To-Liquid) process could be sampled! I moved to the US in 2003 when BP began recruiting additional personnel as part of a drive to cover the company’s growing worldwide commitment to LNG. I was part of the initiative configured to accommodate developments in the US where the number of LNG import projects was increasing and more attention was needed. In early 2005, to be able to remain in the US, I resigned from BP and joined BG. Although all the LNG shipping for

106 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication of the skill pool. Coincidently, BG was expanded Panama Canal pending and involvement with SIGTTO was terminated. expanding its fleet rapidly, and BG and concerns raised over the safety aspects However, the severing of the link was not Ceres (now GasLog), the managers of of LNGC transits of the new waterway, before my attendance at the GPC meeting our ships, led a GPC working group that I encouraged and sat on the working in September 2015 in Edinburgh which I reflected our concerns and that of the group that developed Guidance for LNG was able to work into my honeymoon! industry. This initiative led to SIGTTO’s Carriers Transiting the Panama Canal. The Although now retired from full-time original LNG Shipping Suggested document also serves as an educational employment, I continue to remain involved Competency Standards publication. tool for the Panama Canal Authority. with the industry, following developments The continued xpansione of the LNG In 2012, when the current General closely and, as always, promoting safety fleet worldwide further concentrated Manager, Andrew Clifton, was appointed, and industry best practices. SIGTTO SIGTTO’s attention on seafarer competence there was a vacancy for someone to chair was formed to introduce these best and experience, to the extent that a working the Society’s Panel Meeting. After being practices and acceptable standards and group was established to develop the approached I accepted the invitation and I am proud of being able to play a small LNG and LPG Experience Matrix. I was enjoyed fulfilling the role until 2016 when part in assisting the Society and the gas 3_LNG_W124xH190-4_EN.pdf 1 2019/06/17 10:57:02 privileged to chair this group. Initially, BG was acquired by Shell and my direct shipping Industry in achieving this goal. our attention was directed at LNG carriers but we soon realised that a lot of the skill pool would be coming from the LPG fleet, thus diluting experience in that gas ship fleet. Thus, we also developed the LPG Matrix. At the same time, due to these fleet-wide competency concerns, an additional, ‘sister’ publication, LNG Steamship Suggested Competency Standards for Engineers was compiled and published. More human element focus My final SIGTTO working group chairing role was again focused on competency and the human element. It turned out to be a major project and one for which we had a problem developing terms of reference because we could not identify, completely, what the objective was! The starting point evolvedr around concerns about major incidents and competency. We polled over 1,000 C personnel either working on gas shipsM or supporting gas shipping in shoresideY roles to assess the current levels of CM competence and training. From the results it became apparent that competenceMY assessment in training establishmentsCY needed to be addressed and the document CMY Suggested Quality Standards for LNG Training Providers was developed. K In addition, the SIGTTO website was extended with links to an external Major Incident Resources section. The working group also concluded that human factors constituted such a large subject in its own right that a permanent SIGTTO body should be formed to consider all human interface aspects. That body now exists as SIGTTO’s new Human Element Committee (HEC), with a status within the Society equivalent to GPC’s. I was also involved in the preparation of two further SIGTTO publications. Following an incident involving a BG ship, I led an initiative that led to the publication LNG Marine Loading Arms and Manifold Draining, Purging and Disconnection Procedure. Then, with the opening of the

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 107 BRIDGING THE WORLD TO DELIVER CLEAN ENERGY

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alpha gas advert.indd 1 13/06/2019 10:46 company and SIGTTO’s decision to formalise its focus on human factors through the creation of a Human Element Committee. GTT launched GTT Training Ltd in 2014 to undertake the Group’s external training activities, with the specific aim of increasing LNG-handling skills and expertise. The company’s team of experienced instructors provide training worldwide at both GTT locations and customer premises, and course subjects range from GTT technologies to different aspects of LNG handling. In 2018 a total of 50 LNG Developed in-house, the Liquid Gas carriers and FSRUs with GTT Handling Simulator (G-Sim) provides a membranes were ordered, powerful tool that helps deliver GTT’s the most in a decade LNG cargo-handling operations and LNG bunkering training packages. A number of ship operators, administrations and training establishments have installed Focus on skill sets for G-Sim simulators at their premises. When it was welcomed in August 2015, GTT Training became the first company GTT membrane vessels to join SIGTTO under the Society’s then new training providers membership category. The company was honoured to Philippe Berterottière, CEO of GTT, host SIGTTO’s 63rd Panel Meeting, which examines how his company’s close links was held in Houston in October 2017. GTT Training’s director and general with SIGTTO have intensified since the manager Ray Gillett was a founder member establishment of GTT Training Ltd of SIGTTO’s recently established Human Element Committee (HEC) and chairs the TT is a technology and the production of technical studies. Cargo Control Room (CCR) Ergonomics engineering group specialised Since the 630 m3 Pythagore, a pioneering Working Group, one of HEC’s inaugural BRIDGING THE WORLD TO in membrane containment prototype LNG carrier, was fitted with a sub-groups. The CCR Ergonomics Working G systems utilised in the Technigaz membrane tank in 1964, GTT Group’s first publication, Recommendations transport and storage of liquefied gas. membrane containment systems have for Management of Cargo Alarm Systems, has We have been developing solutions for gained great favour amongst shipowners. recently received SIGTTO Board approval. DELIVER CLEAN ENERGY the liquefied gas industry, in particular Of the more than 500 conventional Ray’s group is now pressing on to for liquefied natural gas (LNG), for more LNG carriers and FSRUs now in service, consider cargo control room layout than 50 years. Over that time top priority approximately 75% are equipped with and ergonomics, including aspects has been given to building trusting GTT membranes of either the Mark or such as control station layout, physical relationships and lasting partnerships NO type. The fleet is fairly evenly split environment, operator interface, with every stakeholder in the liquefied gas between the two families. In 2018 50 LNG controls, displays and the human/ transport supply chain, from shipyards, carriers and FSRUs with GTT membrane machine interface (HMI). Committed to providing world-class ship management shipowners and gas companies to terminal systems were ordered, making it the best operators and classification societies. year of the decade for our core business. Meeting the skills challenge services that meet or exceed safety, environmental A commitment to safety underpins We at GTT believe that one of the biggest the establishment and maintenance Emphasis on training challenges for the LNG industry is to of trusting relationships, and GTT is Over the past 50 years membrane tank maintain the high levels of skill and and customer requirements. able to call on the know-how of our LNG carriers have successfully delivered expertise required for safe and reliable experienced team of engineers and our shipments without a single breach of a operations at a time of rapid fleet continuing research and development containment system or significant loss expansion, technological advances and efforts in the drive to provide safe and of cargo. The exemplary cargo delivery the extension of the supply chain into efficient systems and minimise risks. record of GTT membrane vessel systems small-scale LNG and LNG bunkering. GTT membrane systems are fitted on stems from not only our rigorous risk SIGTTO has a key role to play in the LNG carriers, floating LNG production prevention programme but also the development and dissemination of the (FLNG) vessels, floating storage and training packages we offer to customers. guidance required to maintain high skill regasification units (FSRUs) and GTT has been involved with SIGTTO levels across the growing number of 354 Syngrou Avenue I 17674 Athens, Greece multi-gas carriers. We also offer LNG for many years, actively contributing to a industry participants. In this respect it is bunker tank and onshore storage tank number of the Society’s working groups good to note that HEC working groups solutions, as well as a wide range of engaged in developing industry best practice are now contributing to that knowledge t: +30 211 10 93 700 • e: [email protected] services, including engineering, support guidelines. That commitment has intensified pool and augmenting the output from in emergency situations, consultancy, in recent years, following the establishment the working groups formed by SIGTTO’s www.alphagas-sa.com training, maintenance support and of GTT Training Ltd as a subsidiary General Purposes Committee. SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 109

alpha gas advert.indd 1 13/06/2019 10:46 A selection of photos from the Society’s past

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4 5

1. Pictured in 1998, SIGTTO’s fourth General Manager Alain Vaudolon (centre) with his two Technical Advisers, Roger Roue (left) and Marc Hopkins 2. The Swiss Re tower, otherwise known as the ‘Gherkin’, takes shape just beyond St Helen’s Place, in summer 2002 3. A 2013 gathering of SIGTTO Technical Advisers 4. A day after the opening ceremony the 78,945 m3 LPG carrier Lycaste Peace became the first gas ship to transit the enlarged Panama Canal 5. Another SIGTTO Board and another approval for a new set of industry best practice guidelines

110 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Liquefied gas shipping & terminal timeline A century of major developments in the LNG, LPG, ethane and chemical gas sectors

1913 1953 Walter Snelling awarded a US patent for his method of The 600 m3 Rasmus Tholstrup, the world’s first purpose-built, liquefying propane fraction in the gasoline then being sold; fully pressurised LPGC, was delivered to Denmark’s Kosangas later in the year Frank Phillips, the founder of what was to become ConocoPhillips, bought the patent for US$50,000 1956 French government authorised Worms Group to 1915 research transport of Algerian natural gas by sea Godfrey Cabot patented concept for “handling and transporting liquid gas” by river barge 1957 Gazocéan established by Renè Boudet 1917 The main output of a small gas liquefaction plant built 1958 in West Virginia was bottled ethane and propane CB&I built flat-bottomed, aluminium LNG storage tank in US 1931 January 1959 UK shipbuilder Hawthorn Leslie delivered to Shell The 5,000 m3 Methane Pioneer, a converted cargo the 3,552 gt Agnita, a tanker able to carry gas oil ship, carried first of seven trial LNG shipments and up to 2,100 m3 of either sulphuric acid or LPG from Louisiana to Canvey Island in 12 cylindrical pressure vessel cargo tanks 1934 In 1959 Methane Pioneer carried the first- ever seaborne shipment of LNG Shell converted oil tanker Megara to also enable carriage of up to 1,463 m3 of LPG in 24 vertically mounted, cylindrical pressure cargo tanks 1940 Hope Natural Gas built a pilot liquefaction plant, with a cork-insulated storage tank, in West Virginia 1941 First commercial LNG liquefaction plant, a peakshaving facility, built, in Cleveland, Ohio The 931 m3 Descartes, built for Gazocéan by La Ciotat, was the 1947 first semi-pressurised/semi-refrigerated (semi-ref ) LPG carrier Converted LPG carrier Natalie O Warren became first ship to carry LPG in bulk, with the addition of 68 vertical, 1960 cylindrical pressure vessel tanks totalling 6,050 m3 Shell took 40% stake in Constock; company renamed Conch 1950 November 1961 The first underground storage cavern for propane UK signed 15-year LNG sales contract with Algeria was commissioned, in the US state of Texas 1961 1951 DNV engineer Bo Bengtsson developed concept of waffled William Wood Prince launched idea of barging LNG from membrane containment system; technology later acquired by Louisiana up Mississippi River to Chicago for use in stockyards the Gazocéan technical department, later to become Technigaz

1952 Saudi Arabia began exporting LPG, from its Great London Smog, and its 4,000 directly linked fatalities, set Ras Tanura terminal; initial shipments to Japan North Thames Gas Board on overseas search for natural gas were carried in combined oil/LPG carriers

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1962 France signed a 15-year LNG sales contract with Algeria

Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the 28,875 m3 Bridgestone Maru, fully insulated and with prismatic tanks, was the first purpose-built, fully refrigerated LPG carrier; the ship’s first cargo, from Kuwait, was discharged at new Kawasaki terminal of Nippon Petroleum Gas May 1964 The 630m3 Pythagore, a prototype LNG carrier with a Technigaz membrane tank, was completed October 1964 The 27,400 m3 Methane Princess transported Libya became the world’s third LNG export nation in 1970 first commercial LNG cargo, from CAMEL plant in Arzew, Algeria to Canvey Island TEPCO’s Minami-Yokohama thermal power station became October 1965 the first such facility in the world to run on LNG, from Alaska. BP discovery of gas in UK sector of North Sea scuppered Conch plans for Nigeria/UK LNG project LPG export terminals at Westernport, Australia and Bandar Mahshahr, Iran commenced operations Gaz Transport established November 1971 March 1965 Distrigas LNG opened first US import terminal, at Everett France received its first LNG cargo, an Algerian shipment delivered to Le Havre by the 25,000 m3 Jules Verne December 1971 GIIGNL, with 19 members, held inaugural meeting 1965 Built in Japan, Ethylene Maru No 1 became the first 1971 purpose-built ethylene carrier to enter service Qatar’s North Field discovered; deposit proved to be world’s largest non-associated gas field 1966 Canada began exporting LPG The 7,400 m3 Bow Elm, the world’s first combination ethylene/ liquid chemical tanker, was built by the Moss yard 1967 The 6,310 m3, La Ciotat-built Pascal became first LPGC able November 1972 to load LPG in either a ‘warm’ or fully refrigerated state Three-train Skikda plant in Algeria began producing LNG December 1968 December 1972 Methane Pioneer delivered first US LNG 75,000m3 Gadinia discharged Brunei’s first LNG export import cargo, from Algeria and discharging cargo, at the Senboku 1 terminal of Osaka Gas direct to LNG road tankers in Boston 1972 1968 Fos Tonkin LNG terminal commissioned Delivered by La Ciotat, the 6,310 m3 Humboldt was the first LPGC with a flexible gas system, enabling up February 1973 to six different products to be carried simultaneously Tokyo Gas commissioned Sodegaura LNG terminal in its six horizontal cylindrical tanks February 1973 November 1969 Fire during repair of empty LNG peakshaving tank Japan, and Asia, received first LNG cargo, a shipment on Staten Island dislodged concrete roof, killing from Kenai, Alaska to Negishi terminal of Tokyo Gas 40 workers; “construction, not LNG accident” 1969 November 1973 Italy commenced LNG imports, at Panigaglia terminal The 88,000m3 Norman Lady, first Moss tank LNGC, was delivered 1970 Libya’s Marsa el Brega terminal opened, dispatching 1973 cargoes to Panigaglia in Italy and Barcelona in Spain The first two US LPG import terminals, at Providence, Rhode in four 41,000m3 LNGCs designed by Esso Island and Chesapeake, Virginia, were commissioned

112 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Liquefied Gas Shipping & Terminal Timeline

May 1979 Opened in 1973, the Providence facility was one Insulation faults found on first of three Conch of the first two US LPG import terminals 125,000m3 LNGC newbuildings at Avondale; trio declared constructive total losses June 1979 Laden 125,000m3 El Paso Paul Kayser ran aground in the Straits of Gibraltar at full speed; no breach of LNG containment system 1979 SIGTTO established in London with 10 founder members April 1980 El Paso contracts terminated when Algeria and US fell out over gas pricing; Cove Point mothballed in 1981, Elba Island in 1982 November 1980 January 1975 Brunei LNG delivered 1,000th LNG cargo, to Sodegaura terminal La Ciotat completed 120,000m3 , Technigaz Mk I vessel Ben Franklin, first LNGC over 100,000 m3 1980 LNG purchases by Japan, world’s leading LNG importer, 1975 reached 17 million tonnes per annum level Built with a prestressed concrete hull, the 60,000 m3 Ardjuni Sakti was the world’s first floating July 1981 LPG storage and offloading (FSO) unit Panhandle opened Trunkline LNG receiving terminal in Louisiana 1976 September 1981 IMCO published Code for the construction and The 125,000m3 Golar Spirit, first Japan-built LNGC, completed equipment of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk 1981 Gazocéan reached its peak involvement in the LPG UK ceased importing LNG on regular basis, until 1996 sector, with a fleet, including chartered vessels, that when new long-term contract with Algeria was agreed moved 2.4 million tonnes of LPG during the year 1982 January 1977 Montoir LNG receiving terminal at St Nazaire commissioned Abu Dhabi became first Middle East LNG exporter when 125,000m3 Hilli loaded inaugural February 1983 Das Island cargo, for Tokyo Electric First Malaysian LNG export cargo, from MLNG complex, arrived at Sodegaura terminal onboard Tenaga Satu July 1977 LNG Aquarius, of 125,000m3, loaded first May 1984 Indonesian LNG export cargo, at Bontang for Indonesia shipped 1,000th cargo; new No 1 LNG exporter new Senboku 2 terminal of Osaka Gas 1984 1977 Japan purchased 72% of world’s LNG La Ciotat completed the 101,000 m3 Esso Westernport, the largest LPGC ever built. 1985 Tokyo Electric’s Futtsu LNG terminal opened September 1978 Elba Island LNG terminal opened, with May 1986 El Paso Paul Kayser cargo 10,000th LNG cargo loaded, all but 20 under long-term contracts October 1978 Arun, Indonesia’s second export terminal, loaded first cargo June 1986 IGC Code entered into force for new gas ships March 1978 Cove Point LNG receiving terminal commissioned 1986 No LNG imports arrived in the US, for first time since 1974 US Natural Gas Policy Act lifted price controls on domestic natural gas discovered after 1977 Korea received first LNG shipment, at Pyeong Taek

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July 1987 September 1995 Zeebrugge LNG receiving terminal in Belgium opened Daewoo and Hanjin jointly completed their first LNGC and first Asia-built membrane ship, 130,000m3 Hanjin Pyeongtaek June 1988 Huelva LNG import terminal in Spain received first cargo 1995 Three-train MLNG 2 complex at Malaysia’s 1988 Bintulu terminal commissioned Trunkline LNG terminal reopened; Algerian purchases resumed November 1996 Indonesian exports accounted for 40% of world LNG trade Incheon, Korea’s second LNG import terminal, opened July 1989 December 1996 Australia exported first LNG cargo, from North The 135,000m3 Al Zubarah loaded Qatar’s inaugural export West Shelf project on 125,000m3 Northwest cargo, for shipment to Chubu Electric’s Kawagoe terminal Sanderling to Sodegaura terminal

1989 Al Zubarah had the honour of lifting Cartagena terminal in Spain commissioned Qatar’s first-ever LNG cargo 1990 Taiwan received first LNG shipment, from Indonesia onboard 137,000m3 Ekaputra at new Kaohsiung terminal 1991 The Jiangnan yard delivered the first Chinese-built LPGC, a 3,000 m3 fully pressurised ship; the following year Jiangnan completed China’s first ethylene carrier, the 4,200 m3 Max Planck; today the country is the world’s leading builder of semi-ref gas carriers February 1990 1996 Delivery of Algerian cargo to Canvey Island by Methane Japan inaugurated three new LNG import terminals, Princess was to be last LNG shipment to UK for 15 years Hatsukaichi, Kagoshima and Sodeshi

March 1993 Pyeong Taek in Korea became world’s busiest LNG Delivery of LNG Flora marks first involvement receiving terminal, overtaking Sodegaura in Japan by Japanese utilities in LNGC ownership February 1997 June 1993 Methane Princess scrapped IHI delivered 87,500m3 Polar Eagle, first LNGC with SPB tanks; sistership Arctic Sun completed in December 25,000th LNG cargo delivered November 1993 March 1997 Saibu Gas became first mid-size Japanese utility to import LNG Algeria recommenced deliveries to Italy, to upgraded direct; Malaysian cargo arrived on 18,900m3 Aman Bintulu Panigaglia terminal under 20-year contract June 1994 July 1997 Hyundai Heavy Industries delivered 125,000m3 spherical The 54,000 m3 steel-built Escravos LPG FSO, with IHI SPB tank Hyundai Utopia, first Korean-built LNGC tanks and using tandem offloading hose, became the second purpose-built LPG FSO to enter into service June 1994 Gaz Transport and Technigaz merged operations October 1997 to create Gaztransport & Technigaz SA (GTT) Small-scale Tjeldbergodden facility, Norway’s first LNG liquefaction plant, opened 1994 Turkey began importing LNG, with Algerian shipment to 1997 Marmara-Ereglisi terminal under long-term contract China’s first large LPG import terminal, the Taicang facility at the mouth of the Yangtze River, opened for business June 1995 Enron claimed it had achieved its goal of becoming January 1998 “the world’s first natural gas major” Tokyo Gas commissioned Ohgishima LNG terminal, its third

114 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Liquefied Gas Shipping & Terminal Timeline

July 1999 The 138,000 m3 Berge Boston (now BW Atlantic LNG in Trinidad, western hemisphere’s Boston) received shipping industry’s first ever second LNG export project, came onstream International Ship Security Certificate August 1999 October 2003 RasGas 1, second Qatar LNG export project, inaugurated Moss spherical tank 145,000m3 Energy Frontier became largest LNGC on delivery from Kawasaki September 1999 Nigeria LNG Train 2 commenced production; 2003 Train 1 came onstream in February 2000 Cove Point in US received first LNG cargo in 23 years; it had reopened for storage and peakshaving operations in 1995 December 1999 Samsung completed 138,200m3 SK Supreme, its first LNG Sines LNG import terminal in Portugal commissioned carrier and largest Technigaz Mark III ship yet built Devon Energy in US launched shale gas era by drilling first well 1999 combining horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology Bontang Train 8 onstream; Indonesian LNG production peaked, at 28.5 mta level Bilbao, Spain’s fourth LNG terminal, was inaugurated

April 2000 Japan’s Asakawa yard delivered Kendal and Keswick, at Oman LNG plant opened; Oman is 12th LNG exporter 11,000 m3 the largest fully pressurised LPGCs yet built July 2000 EcoElectrica LNG terminal in Puerto Rico received first cargo 2000 Revithoussa LNG import terminal in Greece commissioned 2001 Elba Island terminal received first LNG cargo in 20 years The 11,000 m3, 2003-built Keswick is amongst the largest fully pressurised LPG carriers ever built

January 2004 Petronet imported India's first LNG cargo, at Dahej December 2004 Hudong Zhonghua began work on first China-built LNGC

Elba Island resumed LNG imports 2004 in 2001 after a 20-year gap The LPGC fleet of very large gas carriers (VLGCs) topped 100 vessels for the first time February 2002 January 2005 Wärtsilä won first marine order for its 50DF dual-fuel engines, 138,000m3 Excelsior, world’s first LNG regas vessel, for four six-cylinder units for 71,400m3 Gaz de France Energy commissioned; in May the vessel inaugurated Gulf Gateway, the first deepwater LNG port September 2002 Tongyeong, Korea’s third LNG terminal, received first cargo Singe-train SEGAS plant at Damietta, Egypt commenced operations, with cargo lifted by 138,000m3 Cádiz Knutsen November 2002 Nigeria LNG Train 3 commenced operations April 2005 Shell’s Hazira LNG receiving terminal in India inaugurated March 2003 MLNG Tiga complex at Bintulu terminal May 2005 dispatched first LNG cargo, to JAPEX Two-train, 7.2 mta Idku LNG plant in Egypt commissioned

July 2003 The 135,000 m3 Sanha LPG FPSO, went into operation as Kawasaki delivered 2,500m3 Shinju Maru No 1, the world’s first purpose-built LPG floating production, world's first pressure buildup type LNG carrier storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, in Angola

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July 2005 April 2008 Grain LNG reopened as import terminal, Sabine Pass and Freeport LNG import terminals commissioned receiving first UK LNG cargo in 15 years Costa Azul, Mexico’s second LNG terminal, received first cargo Posco’s Gwangyang LNG import facility, Korea’s fourth, opened Dapeng Sun, first Chinese-built LNGC, delivered, by Hudong Zhonghua Daewoo delivered the 145,700 m3 Maran Gas Asclepius, the first LNGC ro be built for a Greek shipowner June 2008 Bahia Blanca GasPort, South America’s first December 2005 LNG import facility, commissioned; first Qalhat LNG, third Omani LNG train, dispatched first cargo jettyside LNG STS transfer carried out January 2006 September 2008 Mizushima, Japan’s 26th LNG receiving Mozah, first Q-max LNG carrier, delivered by Samsung terminal, opened for business November 2008 February 2006 Shanghai’s small-scale Wuhaogou LNG 3.5 mta Darwin LNG export terminal loaded first cargo import terminal opened April 2006 January 2009 Dapeng LNG, China’s first import terminal, entered service Brazil imported first LNG cargo, at FSRU-based Pecem terminal

SAGGAS LNG receiving terminal in February 2009 Sagunto, Spain inaugurated Russia’s Sakhalin 2 LNG export terminal dispatched first cargo August 2006 March 2009 Altamira terminal opened, making Mexico 17th LNG importer FSRU-based Guanabara Bay LNG terminal opened in Brazil

December 2006 The UK’s South Hook LNG import terminal commissioned Egegaz LNG import terminal at Aliaga, Turkey’s second, opened April 2009 Excelerate opened Northeast Gateway 2006 offshore LNG import facility Qatar overtook Indonesia to become No 1 LNG exporter May 2009 February 2007 Fujian LNG, China’s second LNG import terminal, opened Excelerate and Exmar carried out first commercial ship-to-ship (STS) LNG transfer, at Scapa Flow June 2009 7.5 mta Canaport LNG import terminal came onstream Teesside GasPort, world’s first jettyside, regas vessel-based receiving terminal, inaugurated Chile commenced LNG imports, at Quintero LNG terminal

Small-scale Hachinohe LNG distribution Cameron LNG received first commissioning cargo terminal opened in Japan July 2009 May 2007 Taiwan opened second LNG import terminal, at Taichung First LNG cargo loaded at Equatorial Guinea’s Bioko Island plant Tangguh LNG in Indonesia loaded first cargo

El Ferrol, Spain’s sixth LNG import August 2009 terminal, received first cargo Mina Al Ahmadi GasPort in Kuwait, Middle East’s first LNG import terminal, entered service October 2007 4.3 mta Snøhvit LNG project in Norway loaded inaugural cargo Adriatic LNG, first offshore GBS-based terminal, opened December 2007 September 2009 Al Gattara became first Q-flex LNG ship to lift a cargo Decision taken to proceed with 15 mta Gorgon LNG 2007 October 2009 Panama Canal expansion project launched Fos Cavaou (Fosmax) received first LNG cooldown cargo

116 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication Liquefied Gas Shipping & Terminal Timeline

April 2011 Opened in 2009, Fos Cavaou is the second LNG Rudong LNG terminal in China received import terminal in the French Mediterranean port first commissioning cargo May 2011 Shell sanctioned Prelude, first floating LNG production project to get green light

N-KOM yard carried out first LNGC repair job, on Simaisma

Sweden’s small-scale Nynäshamn LNG receiving terminal opened June 2011 GNL Escobar GasPort, Argentina’s second regas vessel- based LNG receiving terminal, commenced operations Shanghai LNG, China’s third baseload import terminal, opened Dunkirk LNG import terminal project in France sanctioned November 2009 Yemen became 17th LNG export nation July 2011 with loading of first cargo Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) partners agreed to proceed with third LNG export December 2009 project in Australian port of Gladstone Decision made to proceed with Papua New Guinea’s 6.6 mta PNG LNG project September 2011 Map Ta Phut, Thailand’s first LNG import terminal, opened May 2010 Mejillones, Chile’s second LNG terminal, Gate LNG terminal in Rotterdam received first cargo received first commercial cargo Wheatstone partners agreed to proceed June 2010 with 8.9 mta LNG export project Peru LNG export terminal entered into service October 2011 Nakilat took delivery of 266,000m3 Rasheeda, last The 0.3 mta Skangass LNG liquefaction of its 54-ship LNGC newbuilding programme plant at Stavanger opened October 2010 November 2011 Golden Pass LNG import terminal in First cargo discharged at PetroChina’s Texas received inaugural cargo Dalian LNG import terminal November 2010 January 2012 Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) partners Inpex and Total sanctioned 8.4 mta Ichthys agreed to proceed with the first LNG export LNG export project in Australia project in Australian port of Gladstone March 2012 December 2010 Mexico’s third LNG import terminal, at Golar Freeze, converted to FSRU, commissioned at Dubai Manzanillo, commissioned January 2011 April 2012 Gladstone LNG (GLNG) partners agreed to proceed with Australia’s Pluto LNG project loaded its first cargo second LNG export project in Australian port of Gladstone Japanese island of Okinawa received first LNG cargo Grain LNG Phase 3 expansion boosted capacity to 14.8 mta May 2012 February 2011 Nusantara Regas Satu, the converted LNGC Khannur Qatargas Train 7, 14th and last Ras Laffan train and Indonesia’s first receiving terminal, inaugurated in current programme, commissioned July 2012 March 2011 Cheniere decided to proceed with Trains 1 and Japan’s Fukushima prefecture hit by magnitude 9.0 earthquake 2 of Sabine Pass LNG export project; Trains and tsunami; country’s nuclear plants closed for safety checks 3 and 4 given go-ahead in May 2013

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September 2012 December 2013 CNOOC’s Zhejiang LNG import terminal Yamal LNG partners agreed to proceed with 16.5 at Ningbo commissioned mta Russian Arctic LNG export project

October 2012 Inpex commissioned 1.5 mta Naoetsu LNG receiving terminal The 150,000m3 Ob River completed first passage of Northern Sea Route by a laden LNGC January 2014 Bahia, Brazil’s 3rd FSRU-based LNG import terminal, opened Hokkaido Gas commissioned Ishikari LNG import terminal May 2014 2012 Papua New Guinea became 20th LNG export nation Thanks to the shale gas boom, the US switched from with entry into service of PNG LNG project being a net importer of LPG to a net exporter; by 2014 the country was the world’s largest LPG exporter July 2014 Kogas opened its fourth LNG import terminal, at Samcheok January 2013 Inaugural LNG cargo discharged at 5 mta Regas vessel PGN FSRU Lampung went Dabhol terminal, India’s third on station off southern Sumatra February 2013 August 2014 Operations at Egypt’s Damietta LNG plant Hainan LNG, CNOOC’s seventh Chinese ceased due to lack of feed gas LNG import terminal, opened

March 2013 Cameron LNG export project gets green light to proceed Singapore LNG’s terminal received first cargo January 2016 May 2013 APLNG project in Gladstone, Australia loaded Malacca LNG’s jetty-based LNG import its first LNG shipment. The 163,000m3 Methane terminal received first cargo Spirit transported the inaugural cargo.

The revised International Code for the Construction The Malacca receiving facility in Malaysia and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases features a jetty-mounted regasification unit in Bulk (IGC Code) entered into force on 1 January and was fully implemented on 1 July 2016 February 2016 The new Train 1 at Sabine Pass LNG, a facility built originally as an import terminal, dispatched its inaugural cargo; it’s also the first LNG export consignment from the lower 48 US states

Daewoo delivered to Teekay the 173,400 m3 Creole Spirit, the first newbuilding LNGC to be propelled June 2013 with a two-stroke, dual-fuel propulsion system Angola LNG dispatched first commercial shipment with fuel gas supplied at high pressure July 2013 New 4.5 mta train at Skikda, Algeria commenced operations August 2013 Italy inaugurated FSRU Toscana LNG import project

Kochi, India’s 4th LNG import terminal, received inaugural cargo October 2013 Zhuhai, CNOOC’s sixth Chinese LNG import terminal, opened Completed in 2016 Creole Spirit was the first LNGC November 2013 fitted with a two-stroke, dual-fuel propulsion system PetroChina opened third LNG import terminal, at Tangshan CNOOC’s Tianjin facility, China’s first regas vessel-based The in-service VLGC fleet reached 200 terminal, started up, using 145,000m3 GDF Suez Cape Ann vessels, up from 100 vessels in 2006

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March 2016 Margerie, the world’s first icebreaking LNG carrier, to A new global gas carrier trade was inaugurated when the Sovcomflot, and the first in a series of 15 such Arc7 ice 27,500 m3 JS Ineos Intrepid lifted the first shipment of ethane class ships being built to lift Yamal LNG cargoes from Sunoco’s Marcus Hook terminal near Philadelphia Christophe de Margerie was the first Chevron's Gorgon project in Western Australia icebreaking LNG carrier to go into service dispatched its first LNG export cargo April 2016 Sinopec’s 3 mta Beihai facility, China’s 14th LNG import terminal, commenced operations May 2016 The Benoa LNG receiving project on the Indonesian island of Bali, utilising a floating storage unit (FSU) and a floating regasification unit (FRU), opened for business December 2016 Shizuoka Gas commissioned an LNG cargo The fully refrigerated, 87,000 m3 Ethane Crystal, reloading capability, the first such in Japan, the world’s first very large ethane carrier (VLEC), at its Sodeshi import terminal entered service on the US Gulf to India route June 2016 January 2017 The 79,000 m3 LPG carrier Lycaste Peace became the first gas The International Code of Safety for Ships using ship to pass through the Panama Canal’s new expanded locks Gases or other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) entered into force on 1 January 2017 July 2016 The laden 163,700m3 Maran Gas Apollonia became the The FSRU-based Etki LNG import terminal in Turkey’s first LNGC to transit the Panama Canal expanded locks Candarli Bay on the Aegean Sea received its inaugural cargo

LNG imports were received for the first time at the Dunkirk Malta, making use of the 1985-built, 125,000 m3 terminal in France and the Pori terminal in Finland floating storage unit (FSU) Armada LNG Mediterranea (ex-Wakaba Maru) received its first LNG cargo BP announced it will build Train 3 at its Tangguh export terminal in eastern Indonesia Petronas and JX Nippon Oil & Energy started up the ninth train at Bintulu in the Malaysian state of Sarawak August 2016 Rotterdam’s Gate LNG opened its breakbulk terminal, March 2017 complete with a third jetty, for handling small-scale LNGCs Sabine Pass LNG produced the commissioning cargo from its third 4.5 mta LNG train Abu Dhabi commenced LNG imports utilising the 138,000 m3 FSRU Excelerate moored at Ruwais April 2017 Qatar lifted its self-imposed moratorium on developing the October 2016 North Field, the huge deposit which accounts for nearly Jamaica commenced LNG imports by making use of the all Qatar’s gas production and 60% of its export revenue 138,000 m3 Golar Arctic, as a floating storage unit (FSU) and the 6,500 m3 Coral Anthelia for coastal distribution The Hanjin yard in Korea completed the 5,100 m3 Engie Zeebrugge, the world’s first purpose- November 2016 built, seagoing LNG bunker vessel Colombia commenced LNG imports using the 170,000 m3 FSRU Hoegh Grace moored at Cartagena Engie Zeebrugge marked another first – the inaugural purpose-built, seagoing LNG bunker vessel The 180,000 m3 PFLNG Satu, the first floating LNG production (FLNG) vessel to go into service, started processing gas on the Kanowit field off Sarawak in Malaysia

The Bontang export terminal in Indonesia’s East Kalimantan shipped its 9,000th cargo. The facility started operations in July 1977 and is currently running four of its original eight LNG trains

Daewoo delivered the 172,000 m3 Christophe de

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May 2017 of LNG, commencing in 2020, for use as bunker The 216,000 m3 Al Kharaitiyat delivered the fuel for nine 22,000 TEU, LNG-powered container commissioning cargo to the 2 mta Yuedong terminal, ships currently under construction CNOOC’s eighth Chinese LNG import facility Exmar chose LPG-burning, dual-fuel engines to propel a RasGas of Qatar shipped its 2,000th cargo to Korea on pair of VLGCs being built by Hanjin Heavy Industries & board the 138,000 m3 SK Summit, the ship that carried Construction at Subic Bay in the Philippines; they will be the first RasGas cargo to Korea, in August 1999 the world’s first LPG-fuelled vessels on delivery in 2020

Nigeria LNG (NLNG) exported the 4,000th cargo Nicaragua and Myanmar imported seaborne from its Bonny Island terminal, to Turkey, also the LPG shipments for the first time recipient of NLNG’s 3,000th consignment, in 2014 January 2018 June 2017 Qatar Petroleum merged Qatargas and RasGas, its affiliated Guanghui Energy opened its 0.6 mta Qidong LNG receiving gas operating companies, into one entity, Qatargas terminal north of Shanghai; the terminal has no regas facilities, all the LNG being trucked to end-users February 2018 Total and MOL ordered an 18,600 m3 LNG bunker Panama Canal Authority (ACP) celebrated the vessel at Hudong-Zhonghua in China for use in first anniversary of its new enlarged locks; VLGCs fuelling the nine LNG-powered, 22,000 TEU box transporting LPG accounted for 31.5% of the vessel ships under construction for CMA CGM transits over the first 12 months and LNGCs 9.1% The freshly delivered 50,000 dwt dual-fuel bulk Eni and its partners in the Coral South LNG export project carrier Ilshin Green Iris has a 500 m3 IMO Type C in Mozambique agreed to proceed with the scheme, based LNG bunker tank constructed of a new cryogenic on the use of a 3.4 mta FLNG vessel newbuilding high-manganese steel developed by POSCO July 2017 March 2018 The 172,000 m3 Christophe de Margerie, with a cargo The new liquefaction train at Cove Point, built originally as an loaded at Norway’s Snøhvit terminal for South Korea, import terminal, produced the facility’s first LNG export cargo completed the first unescorted voyage by a laden LNGC along Russia’s Northern Sea Route (NSR) April 2018 Japan's Hokuriku Electric Power Co inaugurated its November 2017 Toyama-Shinko LNG receiving terminal in Toyama Bay Operations commenced at Pakistan GasPort (PGP), on Japan’s west coast with a shipment from Malaysia Pakistan’s second LNG import terminal; both are based on the use of an FSRU stationed at Port Qasim July 2018 Yamal shipped first LNG cargo to China Total agreed to acquire Engie’s portfolio of upstream via Northern Sea Route LNG assets for US$1.49 billion. The new group will manage an overall LNG volume of 40 mta by 2020, The 35,000 m3 ethylene carrier Navigator Aurora making it the second largest global player in the became first gas ship to have its slow-speed diesel LNG market, with a 10% share, after Shell engine converted to enable it to also run on ethane

Petronas received the first commercial LNG cargo at its Navigator Aurora was the first gas ship to newly commissioned 3.5 mta Pengerang regasification have its slow-speed diesel engine converted terminal in the southern Malaysian state of Johor to enable it to also run on ethane

The Manga LNG terminal in the Finnish port of Tornio, at the head of the Bay of Bothnia and the largest such facility in the Nordic countries, received its first cargo December 2017 The icebreaking LNGC Christophe de Margerie loaded Yamal LNG’s first cargo

The Soma LNG import terminal of Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex) in Soma Port received its first LNG commissioning cargo

Total agreed to supply CMA CGM with 0.3 mta

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August 2018 liquefaction trains at their Golden Pass import terminal in Panama became an LNG import nation with the eastern Texas and give it a bi-directional export capability commissioning of the Costa Norte terminal at Colon Excelerate Energy completed its 1,500th STS The FSRU Excellence began regasifying LNG transfer operation, at the Engro Elengy Bangladesh’s first LNG import cargo terminal at Port Qasim in Pakistan

CNOOC’s new Shenzhen LNG import March 2019 terminal commenced operations India, world’s second largest LPG importer, received shipments of the product for the first time from Conrad Industries delivered the non-propelled barge Clean the US, the world’s largest LPG exporter Jacksonville, North America’s first LNG bunker vessel The FSRU Golar Nanook arrived at Sergipe with a ENN Group’s Zhoushan LNG receiving terminal commissioning cargo for the new Brazilian LNG import project received its first commissioning cargo India started up its fifth LNG import terminal and first on the September 2018 east coast, at Ennore, with a shipment delivered by Golar Snow Tema LNG approved an LNG import scheme based on the use of a barge-based FRU in combination The Novatek-led small-scale LNG project in the Russian with an FSU moored at Tema in Ghana Baltic Sea port of Vysotsk loaded its first cargo October 2018 May 2019 Ichthys LNG shipped the first export cargo from its The LNG carrier fleet lifted its 100,000th cargo since the new terminal at Darwin in northern Australia start of commercial LNG shipping operations 55 years ago

Shell and its partners in the LNG Canada export The new Altagas LPG export terminal on Ridley Island terminal planned for Kitimat in British Columbia in British Columbia dispatched its first cargo decided to go ahead with the project The FSRU Excelerate arrived in Bangladesh After three years of importing LNG, making use of with a commissioning cargo for what will be two FSRUs, Egypt ceased its LNG purchases the country’s second LNG import project

November 2018 The Cameron LNG terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana, originally Yamal LNG completed the first of a significant built as an import terminal, began loading its first export cargo number of ship-to-ship LNG transfer operations at Honningsvag fjord in northern Norway June 2019 Anadarko and its partners in Mozambique On the basis of monthly volumes, Australia overtook LNG agreed to proceed with the scheme Qatar as the world’s leading LNG exporter Argentina became the world’s 21st LNG December 2018 exporter with a shipment from the floating BP and its partners gave the green light to their LNG production vessel Tango FLNG FLNG-based Tortue export scheme for the coastal waters of Senegal and Mauretania The Tango FLNG floating production barge has enabled Argentina to commence LNG exports Cheniere Energy’s greenfield Corpus Christi LNG export terminal in Texas dispatched its first commissioning export cargo

The Russian enclave of Kaliningrad commenced LNG imports with the arrival of the FSRU Marshal Vasilevskiy

Excelerate Energy officially withdrew from its long-running plan to provide the FSRU-based Aguirre Offshore GasPort LNG import project in Puerto Rico; similarly, ExxonMobil stated it will not proceed with its West Coast Canada (WCC) LNG export project planned for British Columbia Cheniere Energy agreed to press ahead with the construction of a sixth train at its Sabine Pass LNG terminal February 2019 ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum gave the final investment The Prelude FLNG vessel, in deep water off Australia’s decision (FID) to proceed with their project to add three coast, loaded and dispatched its first LNG cargo

SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication | 121 A selection of photos from the Society’s past

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1. SIGTTO moved to its new office at 42 New Broad Street in July 20182. There’s plenty of room for working group sessions at the new premises 3. The 53rd SIGTTO Panel Meeting in Boston attracted a good turnout 4. There were 200 registered attendees at SIGTTO’s Doha Panel Meeting in March 2012 5. Foam is used to tackle an LNG pool fire during a firefighting training exercise

122 | SIGTTO AT 40 YEARS - A commemorative publication

AT SHELL SHIPPING & MARITIME, THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF SEAFARERS IS OUR TOP PRIORITY.

With over a century of experience in shipping, we know that innovation and collaboration are essential to achieving our goal.

That is why we manage a fleet that includes some of the most technologically advanced vessels in the world, and why we have been proudly working alongside SIGTTO for the last 40 years to promote safe, responsible shipping.

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