In the nowadays fast-moving world mobile LNG tankers compete successfully with traditional gas pipelines. However, their operation requires considerable expertise, so Liquid Cargo Operations Simulator (LICOS) was developed to give the LNG crew sufficient hands –on practice.

Personnel with the little or no experience might choose LNG Tanker Operations (Membrane) or LNG Tanker Operations (Spherical) courses. According to the simulated scenario, LNG vessel has just left the shipyard, so students are required to dry hold spaces, inert cargo tanks and pipelines, gas up cargo tanks and lines, cool down. Then perform loading, gas burning on a loaded voyage, do cargo tank management on a ballast voyage and the pre-docking operations to gas free the vessel.

Next level is the LNG Cargo Operations - Management Level (SIGTTO) course. It is available only for experienced LNG tanker officers (minimum 3 months onboard of LNG on an officer position) and, though it generally repeats the same drydock-to- drydock scenario, Management course includes considerable adjustments from SIGTTO (Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators) syllabus. There is a mandatory assessment at this level too.