The CEO of leading integrated maritime, logistics, energy, leisure and offshore services platform Columbia Group called for a reality check when it comes to the widespread adoption of alternative fuels during London International Shipping Week.

CEO and President of Columbia Group Mark O’Neil suggested that the ‘runway for widespread adoption of alternative fuels is much longer and much more narrow than anyone anticipated’ and he urged the industry to slow down in its urgency in ensuring all crew members are fully trained.

During LISW25’s inaugural series of London Talks sessions held at the Global Hub, Mr O’Neil joined the panel to discuss how Safety Management Systems must evolve to ensure safe, reliable operations in the era of alternative fuels.

While Columbia Group is wholly committed to realistic and achievable decarbonisation of marine fuels, Mr O’Neil echoed sentiments expressed earlier in the week that the reality of alternative fuels being widely adopted is a lot further away than originally anticipated.

He said: “At an earlier event this week I was perhaps a lone voice in calling for a reality check in relation to the adoption of alternative fuels. When I got back to the hotel I saw that ABS had said the runway for the widespread adoption of alternative fuels would be much longer than anticipated, I would warrant that not only will it be a much longer runway but also a far more narrow runway than we all thought a few months or years ago.

“The reason I called for a reality check was that it was quite rightly pointed out that the number of vessels that are alternative fuel-capable in itself is quite a large number. But that doesn’t mean those vessels are ready to burn alternative fuels.”

“The other aspect of this reality check is do we believe the world is ready to invest considerable sums of money in the scalability needed to provide shipping, and other industries, with alternative fuels? There are huge geopolitical tensions at the moment and there are huge financial constraints throughout Europe. With those financial constraints come different priorities on money – there is a toss up in setting up the infrastructure surrounding alternative fuels or focusing on the social policies. Those governments must decide what is more important and I would warrant it would be social policies.”

Mr O’Neil said he believed that alternative fuels would arrive in more gradually so there was no urgency at Columbia Group to ensure all seafarers were ready for the transition in terms of training.

He added“ The question of what is Columbia Group doing to be ready? I say we are ready – but we are realistically ready. We don’t need thousands of crews in our crewing pool with alternative fuel training because the reality is that if alternative fuel ships do come in they will come more gradually – and the majority of dual fuel vessels or methanol or ammonia ready will probably never burn those alternative fuels.”