A Safety Assurance Assessment Model for an Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Tanker Fleet

Abstract

With the world's attention on future energy needs focused on LNG, the unprecedented growth phase and globalization era of LNG shipping activities are inevitable. Along with that, the acute shortage of qualified /experienced LNG sea officers to manage, operate and maintain the existing and upcoming LNG tankers is a crucial issue to LNG shipping industry, as they are the onsite guardians who safeguard and set the standards for the onboard HSSE Assurance. Hence this write-up is an attempt to recommend a recently developed (tailor-made), tested/proven, practical and cost effective solution, i.e., a survey questionnaire based rapid safety assurance assessment model to safeguard, sustain and further improve any LNG tanker's safety assurance. The assessment model was crafted after an in-depth study into existing and potential future safety regimes applicable to an LNG tanker (including its current management approach (internal control) - challenges ahead, needs to reform, etc.). The assessment model has also taken into consideration the foreseen challenges from the humans on-site, with reference to already seen and proven historical perspective and impact of human behaviors onto an LNG tanker's safety assurance.