LNG producer Cheniere Energy is funding a cadetship programme and working with its shipowner partner GasLog to boost the number of US seafarers serving on LNG carriers.
Cheniere told TradeWinds the first two cadets, Shea King and Colin Cargol, boarded the 174,000-cbm GasLog Gladstone (built 2019) at its Sabine Pass LNG facility in Louisiana today.
The participating cadets are selected from Texas A&M Maritime Academy (Tamma) at Galveston in Texas — part of Texas A&M University.
Before boarding, King said: "I appreciate the opportunity to accept this billet to sail on an LNG tanker.
"Since taking the LNG course here at A&M, I have really taken an interest in the LNG industry, and getting the chance to sail on board one of the newest additions to the industry is an experience I greatly look forward to."
Cargol said: "I am so grateful to have the pleasure of sailing for Cheniere with GasLog. I am extremely excited for the experiences and opportunities that await on board, and to expand on my knowledge of the LNG sector of the maritime industry."
The two cadets will spend between 60 and 90 days on the vessel in their semester break during which time they will effectively become a member of the on-board crew.
Hands-on experience
"The programme will provide US cadets with an opportunity to gain operational, hands-on LNG carrier sea-time experience on board partner fleet manager vessels," Cheniere said.
The company said this would entail fulfilling technical, HSSE [health, safety, security and environment] and operational requirements as directed by the vessel's master while also completing studies set by Tamma.
I am extremely excited for the experiences and opportunities that await on board
Colin Cargol
The company said it has budgeted to fund eight cadets per year who will be paired up to serve on board GasLog's vessels when they call at either Sabine Pass or Cheniere’s Corpus Christi LNG terminals.
"We are working closely with Texas A&M Maritime College in Galveston to identify the Cadets for the next ship," Cheniere said.
Pilot
The initiative is formally described as a "pilot cadetship programme" between Cheniere, GasLog LNG Services and Tamma to address the need to increase the number of US seafarers on LNG carriers.
Cheniere said the programme will give the cadets an opportunity to gain operational sea-time experience and valuable practical experience on board a fleet of modern LNG carriers.
"This programme provides these cadets the necessary first steps toward building a future career in the dynamic and growing world of LNG shipping," the company said.
Cheniere said it supports the US Coast Guard and the domestic maritime industry in providing seafarers for LNG carriers.
