Coast Guard Officers Present to NEWRA“I cannot guarantee there will not be an incident, but we are taking the necessary security precautions,” said Captain Healey.

He noted that an LNG tanker has never caught fire although he mentioned that a liquid propane tanker was hit by a missile in the Iran/Iraq war. In that case, the ship caught fire but was salvaged. In order for the natural gas to burn, it would have to mix with oxygen first. The Captain quoted a study indicating that a mishap would not be likely to cause an explosion, but could cause a destructive fire.

In the case of a fire, the study identified an inner ring area around the tanker that could sustain substantial damage and an outer ring area that would see more modest damage. During transport, much of the North End/Waterfront is within the inner ring although less so when docked at the Everett terminal.

“It is hazardous cargo. We have all sorts of that in the port,” said Healey in describing the risks, noting that industrial accidents were possible with any cargo.  The tankers are double-hull with 6 feet between the two hulls as a preventive measure.

 LNG tankers come through the Harbor every 5-7 days, although this is the first time the cargo is sourced from Yemen, known as a terrorist haven. Other LNG shipments have been coming from Trinidad, Tobago and Egypt. The first LNG tanker from Yemen came through a few weeks ago with shipments expected 2 to 3 times per month.

Why Yemen? The U.S. State Department is providing incentives for the shipments because they want to encourage legitimate business in Yemen to support the current government in power there. The Captain said it was his decision to allow the Yemen LNG tankers once he came up with a security plan. Because it has no jurisdiction on foreign ships in foreign ports, the Coast Guard is using outside British contractors to provide security when the tankers are loaded in Yemen and on the high seas. When the tanker arrives outside of Boston, the U.S. Coast Guard does its own security checks. The company that owns the Everett facility pays for the City and State security resources, although the Coast Guard has to absorb its own expenses.

First LNG Tanker Arrives From Yemen in February 2010The Captain explained that unloading would ideally be done off-shore, similar to the two facilities already in place off the Massachusetts coast. However, off-shore unloading involves re-gasifying the LNG into pipelines. The Everett facility has storage tanks to hold the liquefied natural gas which are used for “peaking.” Peaking is the time storage needed for high demand periods. Apparently, there are no off-shore facilities with similar storage facilities in the region.

Due to the pressure from the U.S. State Department to do business with Yemen, it did not sound like a change was coming soon. The Captain advised residents to contact their elected representatives. The Everett facility provides 10-20% of the regions natural gas which would need to be replaced before the LNG shipments could stop. New technology in pipelines would be needed in order to unload off-shore.

One Harbor Towers resident said she sees the security during the transport, but wonders how the boats surrounding the tanker would stop an explosion that would come from a missle or explosion onboard. 

In addition to the public safety concerns, I mentioned a quality of life issue regarding the loud noises from the helicopters and security announcements that wake up the neighborhood when the LNG tankers come through at 4:30 am. The Captain said he schedules them during the night because there is less population in the city than during the day. (Ed: So, they don’t want to risk the safety of the people that work in the city, just those that sleep here.)

In answer to a question, the Captain said that when the decision was made to allow in the Yemenese LNG tankers, there was no consideration of the loss of property value or decline in neighborhood quality of life.

Related posts:
Counter Arguing LNG Tankers Sailing Through Boston Harbor
First Yemenese LNG Tanker Arrives in Boston Harbor
Coast Guard to Allow Yemen LNG Tankers into Boston Harbor

Hollywood East Connection has the full story including a list of feature films shot in Massachusetts. Last fall, the North End saw filming by Ben Affleck’s “The Town,” Tom Cruise’s “Knight & Day” and Damian Depaola’s “Oxymorons.”

Coming soon to a Greenway park near you?The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for food vending carts at four locations on the North End and Wharf District Parks.

According to the RFP excerpt below, these are the locations where multiple carts may operate.

1. North End Parks, corner of Hanover Street and Surface Road
The North End Parks were very popular in 2009. The Freedom Trail crosses the Greenway at this location, bringing significant foot traffic. There are already tables and chairs. The Conservancy intends to operate an activity cart in the North End Park several days a week; exact hours and days are not finalized.

2. Wharf District Parks, corner of Surface Road and Atlantic Ave, near the Greenway Carousel
This location is just across from Faneuil Hall to the west and Christopher Columbus Park to the east. The Greenway’s Carousel is a huge draw, with tens of thousands of riders in 2009. The Carousel will be in operation from approximately May 7 to October 31, 2010. Just to the south of this location, the new Boston Harbor Islands Visitors Pavilion will be under construction from Spring 2010 to December 2010.

3. Wharf District Parks, corner of Milk Street and Surface Road, near the Rings Fountain
The Rings Fountain is a signature destination and was a major draw in 2009, especially for families with children. At least some of the seawall stones currently protecting the fountain are slated to be removed in late spring; if all stones are removed, alternative seating will replace them. The Conservancy intends to operate an activity cart for children near the Fountain several days a week; exact hours and days are not finalized.

4. Wharf District Parks, corner of Purchase Street and High Street
This triangular plaza, next to a grassy area with ample seating, is a popular destination for office workers during the week and families visiting the Aquarium during weekends. The Conservancy may install additional benches, plus new chairs and tables with umbrellas in this location. This area may be used periodically for live performances.