Handling of Dangerous Goods
Most people think of LNG or Liquefied Natural Gas as toxic and extremely dangerous to transport from one place to another. But from historical data, it possesses the best safety record when it comes to the shipment and handling of common fuel types. It is basically non – toxic and the safety hazards that it poses are substantially less compared to diesel, gasoline, and other known liquid fuels.
To reduce the bulk volume for storage and shipment, LNG is liquefied from its cryogenically cooled natural gas state. If it mixes with water or spills on the ground, LNG will vaporize quickly and won’t even leave any residue behind. So if there are incidents on vessels carrying this type of gas for transport, there’s no need to worry about environmental impacts such as damage to waterways or aquatic life.
Since the 1960s, the LNG industry has been conducting bulk quantity shipment of containers. Today, there are more than 100 container ships transporting the said goods from supplier to distributor. The business has gone over more than 30,000 voyages since the early 1960s, covering a total of 60 million miles without recorded incidents such as loss of cargo, spill, or other accidents that have harmed the aquatic life.
Safe Shipment
Although there have been known incidents of ship groundings and even engine room fires, none of them have caused any failures on LNG containment or cargo spills. This is due to the multiple containment walls of each cargo vessel, along with an added insulation and at least 8 feet clearance between the cargo and the hull.
LNG is significantly safer to ship compared to crude oil or diesel. In fact, insurance companies offer rates that are 25% cheaper for LNG shipment than for shipment of crude oil. It should also be noted that liability only covers coverage for fire and damage, but not on the environmental pollution in the case of a spill.
What makes it different from other fuels
Besides the fact that cargo vessels shipping LNG are very robust, this type of fuel is safer compared to others because the tanks containing LNG are very thick and double walled, which makes them stronger than other fuel and chemical containers. As majority of its components is made up of methane, rest assured that it’s non toxic. It is also lighter than air, which makes it dissipate quickly. Compared to other fuels that usually pool on the surface, LNG does not leave any residue, which completely eliminates fire hazards.
Besides being safer compared to other fuels and sources of energy, LNG is harvested from bio – methane, which is entirely renewable. Not only does it ensure safety when it comes to shipment and handling, but LNG may even be the most environmental friendly fuel available.