Marine Log - March 2008 - (Page 41)

SECURITY LNG SECURITY: RESOURCES NEEDED REPRESENTATIVE ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS RECENTLY SPOKE BEFORE A group of maritime and rail executives at a joint luncheon between the Marine Log Maritime & Port Security Conference & Expo and Rail Security Forum & Expo in Arlington, Va. The Congressman is a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infratructure, where he sits on the Subcommittees on Highways and Transit and on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationOne of the topics he addressed was LNG shippping and terminal security. The following is an excerpt from his presentation. B ecause it has been a that LNG IMPORTS States shipparticular concern of receive will increase by mine and of the Subments of LNG. committee on Coast Guard According to and Maritime Transportathe GAO, 11 by 2015 tion, I want to highlight one new on-shore of these issues—and that is the LNG terminals issue of providing adequate securihave now been ty around liquefied natural gas terminals approved by the Federal and, in fact, around all hazardous prod- Energy Regulatory Comuct terminals on the water. mission—and literally A study released by the GAO in an dozens more are in some U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md) fielding a unclassified form in December of last stage of the permitting question at a recent joint event held by Marine Log and its year found that we are moving forward process. Together, these sister publication, Railway Age with the development of LNG terminals numbers should indicate Photo: William Vantuano before all measures are in place to ensure that LNG security should the adequate security and safety – and be an important priority of there are those two words appearing our security efforts. Unfortunately, it has in testimony to our Subcommittee at the together again – of these terminals. not been the priority it needs to be. two hearings we convened on LNG secuJust to set the context, let me note that In some instances, the Coast Guard rity that they do not have the resources daily ship-based imports of LNG now has required LNG terminals to hire local and training to take on this type of average about 1.7 billion cubic feet – or law enforcement to provide some of the responsibility. the equivalent of two LNG tankers visit- security around LNG tankers while they These types of arrangements – which ing a U.S. port every three days. are unloading. in my opinion simply are not optimal— However, the Energy Information While I have the highest respect for are being made because the Coast Guard Administration estimates that imports of our police and other first responders, does not have the resources it needs to LNG will increase by more than 400% by frankly, they have been the first to admit provide these security services while con2015—a mere seven tinuing all of its other vital missions. years from now. This is most clearly confirmed in the In 2006, there waterway suitability assessment for the were about 200 regproposed Broadwater terminal in New istered LNG York, in which the Coast Guard reported tankers. This numit would need 11 new boats to provide ber will increase to adequate security. 400 by 2010—a mere Despite the obvious red flags that this two years from now. situation should raise, FERC was unable There are currentto explain what impact the lack of Coast ly five LNG termiGuard resources would have on a pendnals in the United ing terminal application. 400% www.marinelog.com MARCH 2008 MARINE LOG 41 USCG Photo PA3 Kelly Newlin http://www.marinelog.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marine Log - March 2008

Marine Log - March 2008 Contents Editorial Second Thoughts Update Inside Washington Navy's Toughest Battle Building Future Fleet Less Fuel, Lower Emissions A New Generation of Mariners Training for the Future LNG Security: Resources Needed Models of Perfection Tech News Newsmakers Contracts Events Infodirect Website Directory ML Marketplace Opinion

Marine Log - March 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.