Is LNG likely to be the target of a terrorist attack?
No. LNG’s properties and systems make it unlikely to be used in terrorist plans because it does not explode like gasoline or propane. Any weapon capable of piercing a double-hulled LNG ship or storage tank would be almost certain to ignite the escaping gas. The gas would then burn at the source of the spill with limited spreading. This would restrict the impact to the immediate vicinity of the incident. In addition, following the events of 9/11, the safety of LNG operations at U.S. terminals in Maryland and Massachusetts was closely examined in hearings and investigations involving the Coast Guard, FBI and other federal safety and law enforcement agencies. Although many of the findings remain confidential for obvious security reasons, the conclusion was to allow the continuation of LNG operations with enhanced safety and security measures.
