Overview
ISO 16904:2016 - Petroleum and natural gas industries - Design and testing of LNG marine transfer arms for conventional onshore terminals - defines the design, minimum safety requirements, inspection and testing procedures for LNG marine transfer arms used at conventional onshore LNG terminals handling carriers in international trade. It also provides guidance for coastal and offshore operations and sets minimum requirements for safe LNG transfer between ship and shore. The standard is supplementary to local or national regulations and to ISO 28460, and does not have to be applied retroactively to existing facilities.
Key topics
ISO 16904:2016 covers technical and procedural subjects including:
- Design of transfer arms: length, configuration, counterweights, pipework, welding, corrosion/embrittlement protection and maintenance.
- Mechanical components: swivel joints (apex/bottom), structural bearings and brinelling considerations.
- Safety systems: two-stage alarm and shutdown (ESD), monitoring and alarm systems, emergency release system (ERS) and other safety devices.
- Ship connection: design and operation of QCDC (quick connection/disconnection) systems, presentation flange and flange covers.
- Hydraulic & electrical controls: arm operation, hydraulic/electric components, remote control, jetty control consoles and control-system testing.
- Inspection and testing: prototype tests, manufacturing inspection, factory acceptance tests (FAT) and site acceptance tests (SAT).
- Quality assurance: quality system requirements, quality plans and required documentation.
- Supporting material: design data sheets, reference figures and documentation checklists (informative annexes).
Applications
ISO 16904:2016 is practical for:
- Terminal designers and engineering firms specifying LNG marine transfer arms.
- OEMs/manufacturers developing transfer arms, swivel joints and QCDC hardware.
- Project managers and procurement teams for FAT/SAT criteria and supplier evaluation.
- Port operators, safety and operations teams for risk assessments, emergency planning and procedures.
- Inspection bodies and regulators performing compliance, testing and certification.
Use cases:
- Preparing design briefs and technical specifications for new onshore LNG jetties.
- Developing safety and testing programs (prototype, factory and site acceptance tests).
- Establishing maintenance and inspection schedules aligned with minimum safety requirements.
Related standards
ISO 16904 is supplementary to and referenced alongside:
- ISO 28460 (ship-to-shore interface and port operations)
- IEC 60079 series (explosive atmospheres)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety)
- ASME B16.5 (flanges) and ASME welding codes
- ISO 9001/9000 (quality management)
These referenced documents address detailed electrical, explosive-atmosphere and pressure equipment requirements not exhaustively covered in ISO 16904.
Keywords: ISO 16904:2016, LNG marine transfer arms, design and testing, onshore LNG terminal, ERS, QCDC, emergency shut down, prototype test, FAT, SAT.
Open preview (PDF)Petroleum and natural gas industries — Design and testing of LNG marine transfer arms for conventional onshore terminals
