Standards on #LNG #railcar applications

#ISO/TC 67/SC9 on #LNG installations and Equipment has launched a new WG9 on #LNG #railcar applications.

To date, the LNG trade is a growing market worldwide with broad diversification of LNG sources, transport means and consumer bases. Major trends include, but are not limited to:

1) LNG utilization for traction (private vehicles, trucks, shipping, aviation);

2) small-scale onshore and floating offshore production;

3) expansion of transport over land, in which truck / road transport is leading while rail transport is appearing in the EU for which footprint expansion is expected in the near- toe mid-term.

Multiple players develop in isolation process line-ups, design principles and internal ‘best practices’ for LNG cargo loading / offloading into railcars and ISO containers. This approach entails the risk of market getting flooded with bespoke, ‘one-off’ installations that can create at the minimum inconvenience during loading / unloading and increased operator burden, and in the worst case loss of LNG containment leading to potential industrial accidents.

Timely guideline formulation can help uniformity in design and operational approach and minimize the risks. The aim is to provide the design and operational requirements for transportation of LNG as cargo by railcar, including safety aspects under normal conditions and in case of events.

If you are interested, please contact me or your National Standardization Body.