How should the new fuels be managed, which procedures should be followed and what is important to be aware of when building new ships?

Many questions will expectedly arise when shipping companies from now on will have to sail on a number of alternative fuels. That is why a subcommittee in IMO is preparing guidelines to help the shipping companies.

”Shipping companies need clear rules before they build the ships that will sail on the new fuels, and that is why the new guidelines are an important step towards our goal of carbon neutral shipping in 2050”, says Maria Skipper Schwenn, Executive Director of Security, environment and security in Danish Shipping.

On a very recent meeting, the guidelines for the use of LPG (Liqufied Petroleum Gas) on board ships were finalised. But Danish Shipping has a strong focus on the completion of the guidelines for the use of hydrogen and ammonia as fuels on ships.

”It is extremely important that we as quickly as possible get clear rules for the new fuels. The development is happening so fast that rules either don’t exist or simply can’t follow up with the technology. Regulation should help support the transition and ensure that those leading the way don’t risk meeting unnecessary obstacles”, says Maria Skipper Schwenn.

Danish Shipping has, besides the goal of climate neutral shipping in 2050, another goal of minimum 5 percent of the Danish fleet sailing on climate neutral fuels in 2030.

On a recent meeting in the subcommittee CCC (Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers) IMO finalized the guidelines for the use of LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) as fuel for ships. The rules will now have to be approved by Marine Safety Committee (MSC) before entering into to force. This is expected to happen on a meeting in the spring of 2023.

LPG is perceived as a transition fuel as is the case with LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and the rules for the use of LPG are based on the rules for LNG which are part of the so called IGF Code. The guidelines for hydrogen and ammonia will also be part of the IGF Code.