The Maritime Union of Australia will today sign an agreement with American seafarers to share the employment benefits of the lucrative global trade in LNG.

The bilateral agreement between the MUA and the Seafarers' International Union of North America (SIU), signed off during top level talks with global ship owners in Sydney this week, gives preference to ships crewed by Australian and American seafarers in the multi-billion dollar LNG trade.

The unions argue the trade is so environmentally sensitive and has such implications for national security that ships flagged in tax havens should not carry the high-risk, high-value cargo.

International Transport Workers’ Federation general secretary David Cockcroft said the LNG trade would require the highest standards in seafaring.

Current projects covered by the agreement would include the Australian Government's $60 million commitment to the carbon capture of the Gorgon LNG project.

According to MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin, it is one of the first Australian projects that would see LNG exported to the US West Coast.

“As the world looks to clean energy solutions, the trade will grow and we are determined that Australian seafarers benefit from the trade," he said.

SIU national secretary-treasurer David Heindel said the US Congress had recently amended the US Deepwater Port Act to give priority to the processing of licences for LNG facilities that will be supplied by US flagged vessels.

“This is key to strengthening US maritime security and provides a real opportunity for participation by US and Australian seafarers,” he said.