LNG Bunkering Training Matrix: Competence Alignment Across Maritime and Port Operations

In today’s maritime landscape, Strategies for Effective LNG Bunkering Operations and Their ExecutionLNG Bunkering Training serves as the backbone of a safe, efficient, and regulatory – compliant supply chain for liquefied natural gas as marine fuel. As the industry pivots toward decarbonization, LNG bunkering operations involve multiple stakeholders – vessels, ports, fuel suppliers, regulators – and each must operate with harmonized competence to prevent operational risk. Proper training is not just a regulatory checkbox; it is the key to reducing incidents, ensuring continuity, and building trust across the entire LNG logistics chain.

This evolving environment demands curricula that reach beyond traditional seafarer instruction – addressing interface challenges, harmonizing cross-sector requirements, and filling gaps arising from overlapping regulatory regimes.

LNG Bunkering – Training for the Interface

The STCW contains requirements in Section A/V3 tables A-V/3-1 and A-V/3-2 for a minimum standard of competence in basic and advanced training, respectively, for ships subject to the IGF Code. These tables can be considered highly relevant in setting the wider structure of competencies that should also be considered for the LNG bunkering interface below highlights the relevance of addressing the necessary harmonization of competencies in the context of LNG Bunkering Guidelines: Comprehensive Insights and Best Practices for OperatorsLNG bunkering.

EN ISO 20519 highlights, in Section 8, that all crew members should be trained in the particular aspects of the Standard, as far as LNG bunkering procedures are concerned.

LNG Bunkering Training Matrix

As a main reference for Qualification & Training, a Matrix has been built in the context of the European Sustainable Shipping Forum to better assist all parties willing to develop Qualification and Training schemes, based on relevant legal minimum requirements, for LNG bunkering.

The Training Matrix maps different regulatory regimes, addressing the complex interface of LNG Bunkering where different requirements co-exist, from the ship-side, port-side, fuel supplier side, etc.

Finding conflicting points, and possible overlaps, is still the aim of the work together with the full mapping of the instruments governing the different parts of LNG bunkering operations when training and competencies development and recognition is concerned.

The Training Matrix defines the appropriate references for the training to be set up in different domains and activities of LNG as fuel, both on maritime and inland waterways, and road transport.

The matrix provides an overview of the requirements to all those in the logistic chain in order to identify the gaps and possible overlaps within the existing instruments, with the two main objectives to:

• Maintain the high level of safety for the use of LNG.
• Contribute to the definition of an EU framework.

Author

Olga Nesvetailova

Freelancer

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