Coast Guard on Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas

"to protect the public from the inherent dangers of this highly volatile material" 

This was published on 28 May 2008.  Relevant sections are published. To see complete document, visit the Federal Register.

MJ

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[Federal Register: May 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 103)]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

Safety Zone: Port of Ponce, Puerto Rico

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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Summary: The Coast Guard proposes to establish moving and fixed safety zones around all vessels carrying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargo in the waters of the Caribbean Sea and Bahia de Ponce, Puerto Rico. This action will protect the public from the inherent dangers of this highly volatile material by requiring vessel traffic to maintain a safe distance from LNG vessels operating near shore.

Background and Purpose
    This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life at sea by excluding vessel traffic from the waters immediately adjacent to liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. LNG in any quantity poses a risk of fire or explosion due to its highly volatile nature. LNG carried by tank ships in bulk quantities can be hazardous to a port if sufficient precaution is not taken to reduce this risk. The proposed rule would require vessel traffic to maintain a 100-yard separation from LNG vessels transiting the harbor and 150-foot separation from LNG vessels moored pier-side. The purpose of this rule is to minimize the risk of vessel collision or allision with an LNG carrier, thereby reducing the risk of fire or explosion.

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

    1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

    2. Add Sec.  165.771 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.771  Safety Zone; Bahia de Ponce, Puerto Rico.

    (a) Location. The following area is established as a safety zone during the specified conditions:

    (1) A 100 yard radius around any vessel carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo while transiting north of Latitude 17[deg]54[min]00[sec] N in the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Bahia de Ponce, on approach to or departure from the Puerto de Ponce waterfront facility in Bahia de Ponce.

    (2) The waters within 150 feet of any vessel carrying LNG cargo while moored at the Puerto de Ponce waterfront facility in Bahia de Ponce, between berths 4 and 7 at approximate position 17[deg]58[min]12[sec] N, 66[deg]37[min]08[sec] W.