What measures have been taken to ensure the LNG ships are safe?
LNG transportation by ships began in 1959. Since that time, more than 80,000 shipments of LNG have been safely transported to and stored at terminals all over the world, including the United States, Europe, and Asia. Many of these import facilities are close to populated areas where demand for natural gas is greatest. The best example of this is Tokyo Bay, which is home to four import terminals that see the arrival of one LNG cargo every 20 hours. All LNG ships are fitted with a sophisticated array of cargo monitoring and control devices, and numerous navigation and communication systems. The officers and crew must comply with strict international and U.S. Coast Guard shipping industry standards, and have special training in the handling of LNG and its associated safety equipment. In addition, all ships that transport LNG are double-hulled, operated by highly trained crews, employ numerous other safety provisions, and are frequently inspected. There has never been a major shipping inci
