Further work needed on draft guidelines for alternative marine fuels - IBIA

The IMO's Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) has been working on guidelines for ships that use alternative fuels like hydrogen, LPG and ammonia as fuel. At its ninth session, the committee made headway in drafting interim guidelines for the safety of ships powered by these fuels.

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Although the draft LPG guidelines were finalised with a view to adoption at MSC 108 in May 2024, the draft guidelines for some alternative marine fuels require further work before they can be considered for finalisation at the CCC 10th meeting in September 2024, the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) reported.

During the meeting held last month, the sub-committee delved into the specific provisions related to the bunkering of alternative fuels, with a particular focus on the risks associated with hydrogen and ammonia. The discussions revealed that both fuels carry unique risks that demand careful consideration and provisions to mitigate them.

Mitigation provisions for ammonia are crucial due to the risks associated with its toxicity and corrosivity. Equipment design plays a key role in ensuring safety. Out of the three storage options for ammonia, only refrigerated and semi-refrigerated options should be considered for interim guidelines in the first stage. Portable tank provisions for ammonia should not be developed specifically, IBIA argued.

Containing leaks of hydrogen is a challenge that can pose safety risks. During bunkering operations, it is recommended to allow any hydrogen leaks to escape freely to minimise the risk of fire or explosion, it further stated.

The draft Guidelines have removed Emergency Shut-Down (ESD) principles due to the possible formation of hydrogen pockets caused by small leakages.

The sub-committee has expressed concerns about the debunkering arrangements for ships using fuels like LNG and methanol. Currently, the IGF Code and Guidelines do not have any provisions for such arrangements. Although the sub-committee has decided not to include these provisions at the moment, they may consider adding them in the future while developing the draft interim guidelines for other alternative fuels like hydrogen and ammonia.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

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