With LNG, waiting time is a cost too

In ordinary transport a waiting truck mainly costs time. With LNG, time also affects the temperature and pressure of the cargo inside the insulated tank.

Boil-off is normal

LNG is kept very cold. Even with insulation some heat gets in and a small amount of liquid vaporises. The actual rate depends on the equipment, ambient conditions, fill level and schedule; one blanket figure should not be used for every trip.

Three places where waiting happens

• At the loading point: ship or terminal schedules slip, or documents are not ready.
• On the route: time restrictions, traffic incidents or a changed receiving window.
• At the plant: the storage tank has no room, the system is not ready or the shift has not accepted delivery.

Cutting waiting time is not only about driving faster. ETA, tank status, plant stock level and the authority to confirm discharge must be synchronised. A good swap schedule has warning thresholds and a plan for when the previous trip has not left the receiving point.

Measure the right things

Beyond cost per trip, track turnaround time, waiting hours by cause, ETA deviation, number of reschedules and reserve remaining when the truck arrives. These show whether the problem is the route, the equipment or coordination.