US lawmaker Markey questions safety of ships carrying LNG

Washington (Platts)--21Jun2004

As part of his ongoing inquiry on the vulnerability to terrorists of ships
carrying liquefied natural gas, Rep. Edward Markey, Democrat-Massachusetts, on
Monday sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge requesting
information on the material used for insulation on such vessels. Markey said
he wrote the letter after having been informed by the Homeland Security Dept
that polystyrene insulation is not used on LNG ships because it is susceptible
to melting, only to learn later from LNG ship manufacturers that the material
is used on their vessels. Markey asks the department to respond to a series of
questions, including who tests the LNG carriers for fire resistance and what
standards are imposed on insulating materials on LNG carriers. "The safety and
security of residents who live near the Everett[, Massachusetts] LNG terminal
depend on a thorough analysis and understanding of the risks associated with
the LNG tankers and their offloading at the terminal," he said.

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