Scenario: Attack an LNG tankerScenario Attack an LNG tanker as it is moving through a major port. Description Nearly every week, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker moves through Boston harbor to a dock and storage facility in Everett, MA. A typical tanker is 900 feet long and carries 33 million gallons of LNG (which will expand by a factor of 625 when it turns back into gas to create 2.6 billion cubic feet or natural gas). See this Aerial photo of the tanker dock and storage facility. The tankers make their way past Logan airport and the Boston financial district to reach the dock. There are two reasons why terrorists might attack an LNG tanker:
According to this article: "Boston Fire Chief Paul Christian remains dubious about lifting the ban, which was imposed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 suicide attacks in New York and Washington. 'We believe the analysis supports our position that a catastrophic event could happen' if terrorists decided to target a gas tanker, he said. 'There's a potential for an extremely hot fire jeopardizing the waterfront area.'" Even though an explosion is uncertain, disruption is guaranteed. According to this article: "The Distrigas facility is the Northeast's only LNG port. It provides 15 to 20 percent of New England's natural gas, and as much as 35 percent on the coldest days of winter." Attacking the ship early in the winter would have an effect on a large number of people who heat with gas, and it would also affect power generation in any power plant burning natural gas. The attack on the tanker could happen in a number of different ways. For example:
Damage Potential Damage would come in three forms:
Potential Solutions Like the Alaska pipeline, LNG tankers are designed for a world in which there is no terrorism. It would be nearly impossible to prevent an attack on a tanker if terrorists are determined to destroy it -- an air attack or a rocket attack from shore would be difficult to stop. However, stopping an attack on the water is a possibility if all boats are kept a mile or more away from an incoming tanker, and any trespasser is attacked immediately with gunfire if that perimeter is breached. It would likely take 8 to 10 armed Coast Guard ships to enforce a perimeter like that. One solution would be to close the LNG dock and unloading facility in Boston and relocate it to a much more remote area. This would allow the ships to be better guarded as they move toward the dock, and would lessen the impact of the explosion. Having LNG ships moving right past Logan airport and downtown Boston makes them too inviting a target. Related Links
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