A Novel Integrated Method for the Risk Assessment of Ship-to-Ship LNG Bunkering Operations

Abstract

In recent years, liquefied natural gas (LNG) gradually has become an alternative fuel for ships. For targeted safety management of ship-to-ship LNG bunkering, this study developed a new method to identify, quantify, and rank the risk influential factors (RIFs) for fuel spills during the process of ship-to-ship LNG bunkering. Firstly, starting from the process of ship-to-ship LNG bunkering, the fuel leakage RIFs of ship-to-ship LNG bunkering were identified and summarized. Secondly, combining failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), Bayesian networks (BN) based on the fuzzy belief rule (FBRBN), and evidential reasoning (ER), a risk assessment model is proposed to quantify the risk level of the RIFs. Finally, using the case study of Zhoushan LNG bunkering station, China, the feasibility and practicability of the established risk evaluation index system and research methods were verified. The results of this study show that improper handling by personnel is the most important RIF affecting the safety of ship-to-ship LNG bunkering. Based on the results, targeted preventive measures are proposed to enhance the safety of ship-to-ship LNG bunkering.