The Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise, or LGC NCOE, delivered a three-day liquefied natural gas for 46 technical representatives of the Panama Canal Authority.
The training covered the chemical and physical properties of LNG, to include flammability, lower explosive limits, compression and cryogenic characteristics, and the general arrangement of LNG carriers to include their safety systems and cargo operations.
The LGC NCOE also discussed LNG incident case studies, terminals and bunkering as well as LNG as a marine fuel. In addition, the LGC NCOE took the representatives to a Liquefied Gas Carrier and walked through an examination of a Liquefied Gas Carrier.
The Panama Canal expansion is set to open in April, 2016, which will allow, for the first time, LNG carriers to transit through the Panama Canal. The U.S. natural gas production has surged, thanks to the shale revolution, and the U.S. is on track to become a net exporter of natural gas. LNG terminals along the U.S. Gulf Coast will begin exporting LNG in 2016. Due to these advancements, the Panama Canal will be positioned to play a decisive role in shipping LNG from the U.S. to Asian markets. The distance to ship U.S. LNG from the Gulf of Mexico to Asia will decrease 9,000 miles after expansion is complete.
The training was a result of an earlier visit back in June when the LGC NCOE met with the Panama Canal’s Administrator and Senior Staff to assess the canal’s existing and proposed LNG specific processes, equipment and qualifications.
This training was vital for the Panama Canal Authority and the Panama Government to ensure personnel operating the Panama Canal are trained on safety and security equipment and procedures for handling LNG transits. Additionally, it strengthens the U.S. strategic partnerships and provided essential expertise to this critical international shipping asset.
Source: USCG Blog
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