Safety Alerts and Bulletins Specific to Liquefied Gas as Fuel 
Mr. Scott Mercurio
USCG Marine Safety Alert 05-20  Subject: Electrical Issues Spark Major Concern – Addressing Hazardous Area Electrical Installations Knowledge Gaps.
Narrative:  The purpose of this Safety Alert is to emphasize the importance of properly installed and maintained listed or certified safe electrical equipment in hazardous areas in order to reduce the risk of fire or explosion onboard vessels. The Coast Guard has seen a number of instances where there was a lack of knowledge in the marine industry as it relates to the installation, training, maintenance and inspection of these certified systems.

Society for Gas Marine Fuel (SGMF) Formal Safety Notice (FSN) No: FSN 22-02 Subject: Recommended actions to prevent LNG leakages from DD-CC hose bunkering/transfer system connections.
Narrative: The Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) has received several reports of issues and LNG leakages related to the connection and connectors used between hose bunker systems and the gas-fuelled vessel manifolds.
The main issue identified is:
• evidence that differential movement and applied forces between supply and receiving bunkering equipment are causing leakages where dry-disconnect/connect couplings (DDCCs) are employed, highlighting the need for guidance on how they should be used.
All reported leakage cases have been detected and dealt with safely.

Society for Gas Marine Fuel (SGMF) Formal Safety Notice (FSN) No: FSN 22-01 Subject: Formal Safety Notice 22-01 Formal Safety Notice 22-01 Reported compatibility issues for dry-disconnect/connect coupling (DD-CC) manufactured in accordance with ISO21593-2019.
Narrative: It is understood that some DD-CC couplers manufactured by different OEMs can have compatibility issues during connection before bunkering and this might lead to a DD-CC nozzle and receptacle:
• not making a positive connection or
• making a positive connection but not guaranteeing that the seal is gas and/or liquid tight
In both cases this can result in leakage and therefore safety, operational, and environmental risks.

Society for Gas Marine Fuel (SGMF) Formal Safety Notice (FSN) No: FSN 19-01 Subject: Prevention of LNG leakages from dry-disconnect/connect couplings.
Narrative: Differential movement between supply and receiving bunkering equipment is causing leakages at the dry-disconnect/connect coupling sealing face/surface.  It is not clear that and design loads are being exceeded shills this movement is occurring, however it is causing the coupling to leak.

* SGMF SGMF is recognized as the leading experts in the use and adoption of low flashpoint fuels for shipping and the ensuing supply infrastructure. This is where knowledge and best practice are gathered from the wide experience of our members which encompasses all the value chain for the fuel including producers, suppliers, owners, operators, port authorities and classification societies and equipment manufacturers, making SGMF the largest and best represented organization of its kind.

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LGC NCOE Field Notices specific to Liquefied Gas as Fuel

LGC NCOE Field Notice 02-16 (2016) Subject: Domestic Vessel LNG Fuel System Inspection Job Aid

Click Here to view bunkering related information.

Policy Letters specific to Liquefied Gas as Fuel

CG-ENG Policy Letter 01-12, Change-1 (2017)  Equivalency Determination - Design Criteria for Natural Gas Fuel Systems

CG-ENG Policy Letter 02-15 (2015)  Design Standards for U.S. Barges Intended to Carry Liquefied Natural Gas in Bulk

CG-521 Policy Letter 01-12 (2012)  Equivalency Determination - Design Criteria for Natural Gas Fuel Systems  
a.k.a. CG-ENG Policy Letter 01-12

Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars specific to Liquefied Gas as Fuel

Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) NVIC 02-95 (Change 3) (2018) :  The primary purpose of this change is to align the ACP with applicable International Maritime Organization(IMO) instruments, including the provisions of the International Code for Recognized Organizations (RO Code).

Additional Guidance specific to Liquefied Gas as Fuel

Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP)  The ACP TTP (Change 3) - Dec 2019 consolidates, updates, and standardizes guidance for United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel conducting Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) examinations. 

IMO IGF Code (2017)  Read about the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) on the IMO website.

IMO Resolution MSC.285(86) (2009) Interim Guidelines on Safety for Natural Gas-Fueled Engine Installations in Ships (2009)

USCG Marine Safety Manual, Vol. II Materiel Inspection Section D, Chapter 6, Procedures Applicable to Foreign Tank Vessels


 

Additional Guidance specific to Methanol as Fuel

Additional Guidance specific to Fuel Cell Power Installations

Code of Federal Regulations
 

33 CFR Part 101 - Maritime Security: General

33 CFR Part 103 - Maritime Security: Area Maritime Security

33 CFR Part 104 - Maritime Security: Vessels

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U.S. Code USC Title 46 - Shipping

46 United States Code, Section 3711-Evidence of Compliance by Foreign Vessels

46 United States Code, Section 701 – Port Security

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