Marine officer association gives support to California LNG terminal

Marine officer association gives support to California LNG terminal    Calling the venture “an essential energy development that requires the most highly skilled and trained personnel,” the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) on Tuesday announced its endorsement of a proposal by BHP Billiton to construct a liquefied natural gas facility about 20 miles off the coast of Oxnard, Calif., north of Los Angeles.
   Three other LNG facilities are being proposed to serve the California market, including one project in the Port of Long Beach.
   “We believe that BHP is committed to enhancing America’s national energy security and protecting its local safety needs,” said Ron Davis, MEBA president, in a statement. “After careful consideration and thorough review of the most significant safety and environmental considerations, our organization has decided to support the Cabrillo Port LNG project and we urge its approval by state and federal policymakers.”
   MEBA represents U.S. Coast Guard licensed marine officers who work on freight, tanker and passenger vessels engaged in both domestic and international trade.
   Using LNG carriers, BHP proposes to supply natural gas from Australia’s northwest shelf and deliver it to a floating storage and regasification facility located offshore that will connect to new and existing natural gas pipelines. The offshore facility will be located about 20 miles from the nearest major population center.
   MEBA added that because the Cabrillo Port project is located far from both the shore and international shipping lanes, it has unique safety characteristics not shared by other LNG projects under consideration throughout the United States. The organization added, however, while Cabrillo Port’s geographic security advantages are considerable, additional steps must be taken, specifically requiring that U.S. Coast Guard licensed and credentialed mariners on-board the LNG carriers and working aboard the FSRU.