LNG Shipping Suggested Competency Standards

These suggested standards are useful for all types of LNG carriers, regardless of size. They are relevant to any officer that is involved in the entire LNG cargo cycle operation, including the role of cargo engineer.

It is the responsibility of the owner to decide the appropriate level and type of training required, as part of a formal competence management system. Additional training, not covered by this document, may be required for specific operations or equipment.

Inadequate training and competence have been shown to contribute to accidents. Properly trained and competent personnel are a critical part of the risk reduction measures taken for LNG cargo operations. Competence management systems are necessary to manage the complexity of this task.

It is widely acknowledged that training is a part of the human factors toolkit that is considered essential for safe operations. Training standards need to be assessed and updated on a regular basis to ensure that they continue to provide this essential safety function.

This document suggests the level of competence required to carry out tasks safely. The recommendations on knowledge and understanding have been separated for operational level and management level. Underpinning knowledge that can be used to support understanding is also provided for the appropriate levels. This document is expected to add value to a company’s competence management system.

This document updates and replaces the previous edition LNG Shipping Suggested Competency Standards (2008). This update reflects changes in technology and lessons learnt from incidents since the previous edition was published. Floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) operations are a significant addition that is now covered by this edition.