Excelerate Energy:

Excelerate Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EE), a global leader in the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) sector, has taken a significant step in aligning its Safety Management System (SMS) with the high standards of its operations. With eleven FSRUs in service and one under construction, the company operates approximately 25% of the world’s floating regasification capacity. The Company has completed over 3,100 ship-to-ship transfers and supplied in aggregate, more than 7,600 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of regasified LNG to its downstream customers as of June 30, 2025.

Despite its commitment to operational excellence, Excelerate identified a gap in its procedural documentation. “Our operations and crew are world-class,” said Capt. Jordan Baptiste, Director, Global HSSEQ and Deputy Designated Person Ashore (DPA). “But our procedures followed the traditional style—layered over time, full of cross-references. While it aligned with industry standards, it did not match the operational practices unique to our organization.”

The company chose to begin improvements with the Control of Work section of its SMS, which governs high-risk tasks requiring Permits to Work (PTW), Toolbox Talks, and related procedures. FSRUs demand significantly more maintenance than conventional LNG carriers, making streamlined Permit to Work (PTW) processes essential. “Control of Work is where our crew live every day,” Capt. Baptiste emphasized. “If we get that right, everything else will become easier to follow and understand.”

Excelerate evaluated several improvement options and selected the Lovoy Method for its structured, repeatable approach. “There is a big difference between a writer and a teacher,” said Capt. Vikram Pratap, Global HSSEQ Manager. “Lovoy taught us a repeatable and proven way to write clearer, more effective procedures. That was the breakthrough.”

The initiative began with training a core group of internal staff, all with seafaring experience. “If your workforce writes it, they will understand it—and use it,” Capt. Baptiste noted. 

“That is how you make change stick—by leveraging internal experience and empowering your people to implement pragmatic improvements.”

The team started with confined space entry procedures, consolidating 14 documents and over 13,000 words into one streamlined procedure and one concise PTW form. “We replaced multiple overlapping documents with one clear procedure and one lean permit form,” said Capt. Pratap. The new documents are more concise, easier to use, and fully compliant—now including previously overlooked elements, such as a ready-to-use confined space rescue plan. Compliance with the new SIRE 2.0 inspection standard was also integrated into the update, ensuring regulatory alignment.

Crew involvement was central to the project. Drafts were shared with experienced seafarers, and feedback sessions were conducted. “This was not a top-down rewrite,” Capt. Pratap emphasized. “It was theirs. That involvement built ownership.”

The Lovoy Method’s influence extended beyond Control of Work, leading to updates in over 30 additional procedures. Benefits include a clearer structure, consistent terminology, and strengthened compliance. “Your SMS should never be the weakest link,” Capt. Pratap said. “If your crew are world class, equip them with tools that match their caliber.”

Left: Capt. Jordan Baptiste, Director, Global HSSEQ and Deputy Designated Person Ashore (DPA)
Right: Capt. Vikram Pratap, Global HSSEQ Manager

Excelerate plans to continue training active seafarers and applying the Lovoy principles across the SMS. “We now have the tools, the people, and the system to do it ourselves,” Capt. Baptiste stated. “This is about elevating standards in one of the highest-risk areas of our operation—all in line with our core value of continual improvement.”