The Maritime Administration said U.S. seafarers will be able to get more jobs aboard liquefied natural gas tankers, one of the fastest-growing segments of the international shipping trade, as a result of an agreement signed this week by Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton.
The agreement implements a universal set of training standards developed by an industry working group facilitated by MarAd.
"The worldwide demand for qualified mariners, plus the growth in the LNG industry, provides a unique growth opportunity for U.S. merchant mariners and the U.S. maritime industry," Connaughton said.
He noted the number of LNG ships worldwide is expected to swell from 194 in January 2006 to 373 by the end of 2007.
The majority of maritime training facilities, including the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and some of the state maritime academies, already have programs that train candidates for work on LNG tankers.
Meanwhile, the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association said it has signed an agreement with Armada Cos. to provide "person-in-charge" marine officers for LNG deepwater ports and other terminals worldwide.
Armada has a contract with Skaugen Petro Trans (SPT) Offshore LLC to provide U.S.-citizen merchant officers supplied by MEBA to serve as PICs at terminals including the liquefied natural gas deepwater port in the Gulf of Mexico and the new deepwater port under construction off Gloucester, Mass. Construction on that terminal began this week.
MEBA explained that a "person-in-charge" officer serves as a deepwater port operator's representative, and is normally stationed aboard vessels during cargo operations.
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