Ship Vetting and its Application to LNG, 3rd Edition

Published: April 2023

This third edition outlines the history of LNG shipping and provides an overview of the various types of engines, propulsion systems, gas management and cargo containment systems currently in use within the industry. It details the ship/shore compatibility process for LNG ship/shore and ship to ship cargo transfer operations.

The book sets out relevant sections of the SIRE 2.0 CVIQ and suggests practices and processes for taking advantage of new opportunities for assessment derived from the introduction of the SIRE 2.0 inspection regime. It describes changes introduced by the SIRE 2.0 programme to assist stakeholders understand the impact on their vetting processes.

Finally, the book introduces the concepts of continuous improvement, resilience and the human element and considers their impact on the vetting of LNG ships.

Table of Contents

The Author

Acknowledgements

Purpose and Scope

The Need to Vet Ships

Introduction

Section 1: The Trading of LNG by Sea

1.1 Overview

1.2 Sales and Purchase Agreements

1.3 The LNG Supply Chain

1.4 Production Projects

1.5 Major Exporters of LNG

1.6 Major Importers of LNG

1.7 The LNG Shipping Business

1.8 LNG Terminals

1.9 Ship to Ship Transfer

Section 2: The LNG Fleet in 2022. A Technical Overview

2.1 LNGCs

2.2 Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRU)

2.3 Surveys and Certification. Certificate of Fitness

2.4 Cargo Containment Systems

2.5 Main Propulsion Systems on LNGCs

Section 3: Vetting on LNGCs

3.1 The Elements of Vetting

3.2 The SIRE 2.0 Programme

3.3 The Technical Approval Process. The Ship/Shore Interface

3.4 Assessing Ship Quality

3.5 Assessment for Use

3.6 Using Marine Assurance Systems for Assessing Ship Quality (Courtesy of MIS Marine)

Section 4: Assessing Risk

4.1 Understanding and Managing Risk

4.2 The Role of the Vetter in Assessing Risk

4.3 Addressing Observations During SIRE 2.0 Inspections

Section 5: Using SIRE 2.0 CVIQ as a Risk Assessment Tool

5.1 Analysing SIRE 2.0 Inspection Reports. Negative Observations

5.2 Chapter 8 of the SIRE 2.0 Question Library and its Application to LNGCs

Section 6: Continuous Improvement, Resilience and the Human Element

6.1 An Introduction to the Concept of Resilience as Part of the Vetting Process

Appendices

Appendix A – List of the full LNGC fleet (listed by size) >65 km3 as of the beginning of 2022, including FSRUs

Appendix B – List of the LNGC fleet ordered by ship age, oldest to newest

Appendix C – List of the LNGC fleet ordered alphabetically, by ship name

Appendix D – Orderbook of LNGCs >65 km3 for 2022–2023, including FSRUs