IAMU News No.12, June 2006
6. The Latest Development of IAMU LNG Initiative
Dr. Hisashi Yamamoto
Secretary
IAMU Secretary's Office
After the update report by the Secretary at the 6th Annual General Assembly at Malmö, Sweden in October, 2006, there have been significant developments in our LNG Initiative.
It should be noted that Mr. T. Mitropoulos, the Secretary General of IMO expressly mentioned our name "IAMU" in his Opening Speech for the 37th Session of the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping on 23rd January 2006.
His speech is quoted as saying:
"Looking more widely at human element issues, the reported shortage of seafarers continues to cause concern. The recently released BIMCO/ISF manpower update has provided a more encouraging picture than that projected in the 2000 study, with the global shortage of officers being estimated at around 2%, reportedly due to increased levels of training in the Asian region. While the updated study indicates that there is an overall surplus of ratings, it also shows that recruitment levels need to be increased to meet anticipated demands, particularly for officers and, at the same time, that it is imperative to reduce the number of officers leaving the industry after only a few years of service.
These and other measures are much-needed, particularly at a time when the global demand for cleaner fuel has led to an unprecedented increase in the volume of transportation of liquefied natural gas. The industry has responded to the expected growth in transportation demand with record orders for new LNG tankers. But the rapid expansion of this sector should, in conjunction with new security requirements, technological changes, increased market competition and potential labour supply constraints, serve to highlight the importance of ensuring that ships and the related shore-side facilities are staffed by appropriately qualified personnel with up-to-date training.
In order to safely operate the growing LNG fleet, the demand for competent seafarers must be met without delay and I believe that it is incumbent upon us all to do our utmost to address proactively the need for appropriately qualified seafarers before any shortage of skills adversely affects the safety, security and efficiency of the sector and the industry in general. It is against such thoughts that I welcome the development, by SIGTTO, of LNG training standards which, depending on your deliberations, may later on form the basis of relevant standards for inclusion in the STCW Convention. In the same context, I also welcome the initiative taken by the International Association of Maritime Universities to develop training material to address the same issue." (the bolded italics with underline by this author)
Secretary would like to report that the Secretary General again emphasized that the two major and most critical issues IMO currently faces are (1) Security, and (2) Shortage of qualified officers for LNG carriers.
By fair and objective judgment, IAMU’s LNG Initiative has been playing a vital role with tangible results in one of the most critical challenges of the world maritime community. It should be shared by all the members of IAMU for their dedicated and serious contribution to the activities which has been recognized by the world.
The efforts, at a variety of levels, have been made in marvelous manner. Some of these are:
- AAST&MT
- Inauguration of the New LNG Training Center
- Gdynia Maritime University:
- GMU/Odesa collaboration
- GMU Ilawa man-model LNG simulation capacity in the context of IAMU LNG Initiative
- Korea Maritime University Update of Asia LNG Education and Training Center
- Chair gave speech at the General Assembly of INTERTANKO at Singapore
- Secretary
- (a) SIGTTO (Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators)– collaboration and tangible results (Their detailed analysis of competence of best industry practice of all the 7 ranks of officers on board LNG tankers will be reported to the members.)
- (b) Tripartite Collaboration (US and UK administrations, SIGTTO, and IAMU, keeping close communication with IMO)
- (c) International Gas Union:
- - Presented paper by Secretary was accepted for presentation at their General Conference in June – the Final Text of the paper is attached.
- - Invitation to a membership on its LNG Committee (Tokyo Gas will become Chairman of this committee, from this year, for three years.)
- (d) U.S. Coast Guard Fall Proceeding 2005, featuring "LNG": Secretary’s paper was accepted and contained in the publication.
- (e) NATO Energy Forum: Secretary was invited to make presentations on Secure and Safe LNG supply.
With the express support of the U.S. Coast Guard, the 2nd LNG Round Table was held in Washington D.C. on 30th and 31st May, 2006. R. Adm. Len Tyler, Chair, presided at the meeting, and the Joint Statement was successfully signed by the parties present. The main points of the Joint Statement are as follows (The full text is uploaded on the website.):
- The first priority should be given to development by IMO of competency standards for qualified LNG officers, and the second priority should be given to the development of a model course for LNG instructors, i.e. Train the Trainer Course. In both cases, efforts should be concurrent and separate from the comprehensive review of STCW Convention and the Code. In view of the urgency attached to these issues, IMO products might be in the form of MSC/Circular or some other transitional guidance.
- Concurrently the participants agree to invite those offices of government in charge of energy and maritime education, training, safety and security to meet and discuss, and to further develop and implement, a plan to address the critical and urgent challenges that LNG industry faces in meeting the demand for a sufficient number of qualified LNG mariners and shoreside operators.
- The meeting participants will formally present to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) the tangible results of their activities in an appropriate manner.
- The meeting will also serve to develop ways to expand the public awareness of LNG, and to address issues specifically related to the safe and secure transportation of LNG.
IAMU LNG Initiative has been gaining rapidly increasing public awareness on the issue, not only on the international platform, but also in the biggest LNG importing country, namely Japan. The Yomiuri Newspaper, the nation’s largest circulating daily, was very quick to report an article on LNG including the 2nd IAMU LNG International Round Table in Washington D.C. which can be read at: www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20060608TDY04003.htm
International shipping is at the beginning of historical change in the LNG market in all respects, such as trade volume, a number of new high technologies, new propulsion system, size of the ships, on board reliquefaction plant, and so forth - all of which needs additional and new competence requirements for seafarers not yet in existence in systematical form. This situation is summarized as "IAMU LNG Calendar" as attached. It is truly a challenge for IAMU as an organization of research, education and training providers as well.
