Coast Guard studies report notes terrorist risk to LNG tankers

Coast Guard studies report notes terrorist risk to LNG tankers    U.S. Coast Guard officials said they would take into account the findings of a study released Tuesday by the Sandia National Laboratories and the Energy Department on the terrorist risks to liquefied natural gas tankers.
   “The classified version of the study will provide us even more information, and will assist the Coast Guard in further refining our risk reduction efforts to prevent the types of attack that have the highest potential for a major loss of cargo,” said Rear Adm. Thomas H. Gilmour, assistant Coast Guard commandant for marine safety, security and environmental protection, in a statement.
   “We believe the report’s concentric zones of risk approach is an effective template to guide our field offices in their evaluations of security assessments for proposed LNG sites,” he added.
   Gilmour, however, emphasized that LNG tankers remain a safe form of transportation, and that the Coast Guard is on top of the security risks to these ships.
   “LNG tankers are very strong ships and that the site specific risk management activities that the Coast Guard already has in place can significantly reduce the possibility of a major loss of cargo from an accident or attack,” he said.