ABS published a new Advisory on Gas and Other Low Flashpoint Fuels, providing guidance on available technologies, regulatory requirements and installation and operational considerations for adopting gas or other low flash point fuels.
The Advisory comes in response to the increasingly stricter environmental regulations combined with other threats that shipping has to encounter, which impede the industry in determining the most effective ship propulsion arrangements and fuel strategies.
As such, the advisory focuses on gas and other low flashpoint fuels that can provide solutions to the fuel sulfur regulations in the short and mid-term, while examining viable fuel solutions that will support the longer-term transition to low and zero carbon fuel.
The majority of the deep-sea shipping fleet will be using conventional and emerging lower sulfur residual and distillate fuels to meet the 1 January 2020 IMO global fuel sulfur limit of 0.5%. However, in the short and mid-term, shipping will trend towards a reduction in conventional fuels in favor of alternative fuels such as low flashpoint fuels and biofuels. The regulatory requirements for all options are broadly in place, but each of the fuels possess specific benefits and technical challenges. This Advisory is designed to help ship owners and operators understand the available technologies and technical considerations to make the right decisions for their fleet as they navigate this challenging environment,
…said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology.
The advisory highlights that statutory and Classification requirements for the use of gas, or other low flashpoint fuels, are in place.
However, the bunkering infrastructure is developing and the number of vessels in service are increasing.
While the contribution of shipping to global CO2 emissions is relatively low, the adoption of the initial IMO GHG reduction strategy demonstrates the IMO commitment to reduce the total annual GHG emissions from shipping, which means a game changing move to zero and low carbon marine fuels in the longer term. The stage is therefore set for the marine industry to begin the transition to alternative fuels that deliver reduced gaseous and PM emissions together with GHG reductions,
…the advisory reads.
