Teema: Regarding transport of LNG vehicles
Manused: Holding time LNG (002).pptx
Saatja: Grönlund Miina <
[email protected]>
Saatmisaeg: 22 April 2020 15:21
Koopia: Hörnquist Mattias <
[email protected]>; Saeed Mohebbi
<
[email protected]>
Teema: VS: Regarding transport of LNG vehicles
Dear Helena and all,
we are fine in Finland, hope you are all fine too!
We agree that UN 3166 is applied when transporting vehicles in RO-RO ships. We were wondering if the
question is, whether opening of the safety-valve and methane release might considered as the leakage
mentioned in SP961 (1)?
Methane is lighter than air and will accumulate to the upper part of the cargo space in case of leakage.
According to Solas (Chapter II-2, Part G, Regulation 20 ? Protection of vehicle, special category and ro-ro
spaces paragraph 3), air in closed ro-ro and vehicle spaces has to be changed 6-10 time per hour,
depending the amount of passengers and in this way methane will be released out from the ship. Of our
opinion, dangerous gases or vapors will not accumulate dangerously to ro-ro or other spaces inside the
ship.
We don?t have any guidelines or instructions in connection to this matter. This is not a big problem in
Finland and at least at the moment we don?t see need to discuss this in IMO. However we are not
against, if you are of the opinion that it is useful to discuss this.
Take care and hope to see you all soon!
Best Regards,
Miina Grönlund
Special Adviser
Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom
[email protected]
Tel. +358 29 534 5267
Kumpulantie 9, 00520 Helsinki
PO Box 320, FI-00059 TRAFICOM
Lähettäjä: Ejlerung Helena <
[email protected]>
Lähetetty: torstai 16. huhtikuuta 2020 15.49
Vastaanottaja: Lenard, Przemysław <
[email protected]>;
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected]; Oblicki Dariusz <
[email protected]>; Durczak,
Wojciech <
[email protected]>;
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected]; Häkkinen Anu <
[email protected]>; Ikonen Mirja
<
[email protected]>; Korsi Juha <
[email protected]>; Vähätalo Jyrki
<
[email protected]>;
[email protected];
[email protected]; Räty Tarja
<
[email protected]>; Wilhelmson Max <
[email protected]>; Grönlund Miina
<
[email protected]>;
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected]; Ref-
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected]
Kopio: Hörnquist Mattias <
[email protected]>; Saeed Mohebbi
<
[email protected]>
Aihe: Regarding transport of LNG vehicles
Dear all,
Hope everything is well with you.
We have recieved questions from shipping companies regarding transport of LNG vehicles, such as trucks
and busses.
According to the regulations, these vehicles shall be transported under UN 3166. SP 961 says that when
they are transported on vehicle spaces and fulfils the requirements in the SP, they are not subject to the
provisions of the IMDG Code.
The problem is that when LNG vehicles are standing still for a longer period the fuel in the tank can
begin to expand and boil off which leads to that the safety-valve automatically opens and release the
methane gas that has caused the increased pressure. Methane is a flammable gas and it can accumulate
to a dangerous level in the space.
1.1.3 in the IMDG code says that any substance or article which, as presented for transport, is liable to
explode, dangerously react , produce a flame or dangerous evolution of heat or dangerous emission of
toxic, corrosive or flammable gases or vapours under normal conditions of transport are forbidden from
transport.
For short voyages this will probably not lead to any problems but the Swedish Transport Agency still
considers if the actual holding time for the vehicle should be declared before it is stowed on board. For
longer voyages this is likely to cause safety risks.
Of the above mentioned reason STA has been in contact with two LNG truck manufacturers. From Volvo
Trucks we received a diagram (see attached file) that shows the LNG tank pressure, in combination with
the LNG fuel level which will give the ?holding time? for the tank, which means ?the time it will take
before the tank will start to release the pressure and self-ventilate?.
STA would like to discuss this matter with you and wants to know how your administration handle these
kinds of questions and what is your opinion in the matter?
Do you have any guidelines?
Is this something that needs be discussed at IMO?
Kind regards/
Helena Ejlerung
Dangerous Goods Adviser
Direct: +46 10-49 53 322
Swedish Transport Agency
SE-601 73 Norrkoping
SWEDEN
www.transportstyrelsen.se
Phone: +46 771-503 503