Schubert calls for U.S. officers on LNG carriers
In his last official speech as U.S. Maritime Administrator, Capt. William G. Schubert told a legal symposium in New York the LNG industry will emerge as 'the second global energy business after oil.'
World liquefied natural gas demand will rise to 200 million metric tons by 2010, with U.S. shipments accounting for almost one quarter of that total, Schubert said.
'To transport the needed LNG, the international fleet of foreign-flag LNG tankers may have to double its 2001 size by no later than 2008,' he said.
Schubert noted that Zurich Global Energy London had calculated that the active LNG fleet was 166 vessels in November. Another 105 tankers were on order.
A report from Sandia Labs suggests that an actual spill of supercooled liquid gas caused by an accidental leak, or a terrorist-induced breach in the hull of a LNG carrier, would pose 'significant impacts to public safety and property' within 500 meters due to thermal hazards from fires. 'People could be burned as far as 1.3 miles away,' Schubert warned.
One means of augmenting both safety and security on LNG ships is for their operators to hire more U.S. citizens among the total of 3,700 to 5,000 new LNG officers to be hired in the next five to 10 years. 'U.S. officers are a clear choice due to their excellent education and training,' he explained.
'While requiring U.S.-citizen ownership of LNG vessels is beyond current maritime policy requirements, it may be prudent to require that LNG vessel operations be made as safe and secure as possible by using U.S. citizen mariners in key crew positions,' Schubert concluded. He spoke at a Yale Club forum hosted by the law firm Holland & Knight.