A SAFETY REVIEW OF SHIPS FOR LIQUEFIED GASES AND FUTURE LEGISLATIVE NEEDS

In order to highlight any safety deficiencies of LPG and LNG ships and to assess the possible need for future legislation, the paper reviews the world casualty statistics for these ship types, together with the records of damage to hull structures and cargo containment systems. Existing and future trends in gas ship design are examined, together with safety assessment methods available to ensure the adequacy of the ships for the transportation of liquefied gases. The paper concludes with a discussion of innovations in design and operation and their effect on future legislative needs.