Conventional Wisdom has had it that a good deal of Boston would go away if one of these tankers exploded.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/289/region/Coast_Guard_lifts_ban_of_natur:.shtml

Coast Guard lifts ban of natural gas tankers in Boston Harbor

By John Mcelhenny, Associated Press, 10/16/2001 12:35

BOSTON (AP) The Coast Guard lifted an order on Tuesday that banned liquefied natural gas tankers from Boston Harbor.

The Coast Guard had barred the deliveries since Sept. 26, when safety concerns following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington led them to turn away the Matthew, a Bahamas-registered tanker.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Jaimie Browne said the decision was made after consulting with U.S. Department of Energy experts and with local police and fire departments.

''The Coast Guard was satisfied with the extensive analysis and planning conducted for this evolution, and thus rescinded the order,'' said Browne.

Boston Fire Chief Paul Christian said he still isn't convinced the 920-foot tankers, which carry 33 million gallons within a few hundred yards of Boston, should be allowed in.

''We're concerned about a real hot fire in the tighter areas of the Harbor,'' he said. ''We'd have one hell of a fire.''

The tankers entered Boston Harbor 46 times last year, usually loaded with gas from Trinidad, on their way to the Distrigas facility in Everett, just north of Boston. About one million people live, work and visit Boston every day.

A Distrigas-commissioned report said last week that a missile strike or bomb detonated next to one of the tankers could cause an explosion, but the ensuing fire would pose little threat to the surrounding area.

The report, by the marine insurer Lloyd's Register of Shipping, also said if an attack caused a tanker to release liquefied natural gas, a nontoxic vapor cloud could spread as far as 3.7 miles. But the report said that scenario is unlikely because the gas would burn first.

Distrigas welcomed the Coast Guard decision, but said because of concerns for the tankers' security, it would not say when the next one would arrive.

''For 30 years, Distrigas has safely and securely delivered much-needed energy to New England through the Port of Boston,'' Distrigas President Rick Grant said in a statement. ''We're very pleased to be able to resume imports.''

The last tanker to unload at Distrigas arrived on Sept. 10 and departed on Sept. 11.

Boston Harbor is one of only three active liquefied natural gas ports in the country, along with Port Charles, La. and Elba Island, Ga. But unlike in Boston, those two facilities are away from heavily populated metropolitan areas.

Liquefied natural gas can be highly flammable. It is stored at 260 degrees below zero and takes up 1/600th as much space as when it is in vapor form.

Distrigas' Everett facility, opened in 1971, is the oldest in the country and the only LNG port in the Northeast.

Gas from the facility provides 15 to 20 percent of the gas that heats homes and businesses in New England, and officials voiced concern that any interruption in the supply could raise heating rates across the region.

On the coldest winter days when demand for gas is highest, LNG from the Distrigas facility provides 35 percent of the region's gas.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001