Jeff wrote:



My home berth is a few hundred yards from the local LNG berth. A tanker
comes in every few days with much fanfare, security zones, etc. Every
now and then there's a report about how much of the city would be
obliterated if she blew, but I've been told that the best guess is that
an explosion would not be too disastrous.

It was also claimed that it would be difficult to actually explode the
LNG from water level, but then it was realized that the tanks are not
very strong or protected on the top. Since then, the Tobin Bridge (aka
Mystic River Bridge) is closed while the tanker goes under.

Since I have to pass within about 50 feet of the tanker to get out of my
marina, I've made sure that the local police and harbor masters know me
and my boat. Its much better to be boarded for a friendly "looksee" at
the dock than a formal "safety inspection" on the water.

I am not a proponent of LNG terminals such as this one.
However, pierce the tank and (from all that I've read) you won't get an
explosion. What you will get is an immediate release of a gas cloud as
the LNG turns to gas, which, once it disperses to a particular level (as
in 1944) will undoubtedly find a source of ignition and create a rather
nasty fireball.
When I think of that terminal, I always remember the big gas tank along
the SE Expressway near Dorchester/Neponset......... BG.

Question still stands..... noting that in the Case of LNG, there are a
number of LNG terminals which could/should be better located.

otn