Boats, marine and boating trends

Agreement addresses concerns regarding the worldwide shortage of shipboard LNG officers and answers the call of the U.S. government to incorporate U.S. citizen crews in the international LNG fleet

WASHINGTON, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA) announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with innovative LNG importer Excelerate Energy to utilize U.S.- citizen deck and engineering officers onboard Excelerate's liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

"The agreement addresses the international crewing shortage and adds a needed layer of security by having American merchant mariners on these vessels," MEBA President Ron Davis stated. "Excelerate has demonstrated foresight and innovation by working with us on this project. This agreement recognizes the concerns of many in Congress, various state governments and the public have about the safety and security of LNG. We look forward to a long and continued relationship with Excelerate."

The issue of Americans onboard LNG vessels has been the focus of congressional and administrative oversight over the last few years. The House Homeland Security Committee scheduled a hearing on March 21st to address this issue. President Davis was asked to testify on the issue of securing LNG tankers. The Maritime Administration, under the lead of Administrator Sean Connaughton, has also moved forward on the issue as well, working with Excelerate and other LNG operators.

The agreement provides for the opening of Excelerate's LNG tankers and terminals to MEBA deck and engine officers in order to obtain LNG recency certifications for loading and discharging LNG. Once recertified, these officers will join Excelerate's international fleet of LNG vessels.

About Excelerate:

Excelerate is a proven leader in the mechanics of supplying LNG. Their Gulf Gateway Energy Bridge Deepwater Port is the world's first offshore LNG receiving facility and the first new LNG regasification facility in North America in over 20 years. Excelerate is expected to receive final approval on its Northeast Gateway offshore LNG terminal that will be located off the coast of Massachusetts.

Excelerate is the creator of a new generation of LNG technology with successful commissioning of the Energy Bridge system that utilizes Energy Bridge Regasification Vessels (EBRV). Based on innovative and proven technologies, Energy Bridge can meet the growing natural gas demands of the United States without the need for land-based terminals that must be constructed in order to provide regasification, the process that prepares the LNG for commercial use.

About MEBA:

The Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association supplies Coast Guard licensed deck and engineering officers in both domestic and international trades. MEBA has an impeccable record of transporting LNG, with over 7 million man-hours of experience during more than 20 years in the LNG industry. MEBA represents over four thousand officers, including a large pool of experienced senior level LNG officers. Additionally, MEBA has been training LNG mariners since 1975 under the most technically advanced training program in the world -- the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School (CMES)

CMES recently installed a cutting-edge bridge simulation system built by TRANSAS that allows mariners to simultaneously control ten simulated ships at once utilizing any of 56 different types of vessels in over 20 different ports. The LNG cargo simulation program allows students to dock, load and discharge LNG vessels and even encompasses the terminal-side operations of an LNG facility. It also accommodates upgrades to adapt to ever-evolving Coast Guard and IMO training and testing requirements.

Source: Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association