Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    Lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Ensure there are compatible adapters onboard

    Panama IMO

    Panama reaffirms commitment to protection of seafarers’ rights

    IMB piracy

    IMB: 50% increase in piracy incidents in first six months of 2025

    Norway

    Norwegian Maritime Authority: 589 incidents in first half of 2025

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    friendship

    Exploring the human need for friendship: A lifeline at sea and on shore

    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    COSCO

    COSCO boxship receives first bunkering of domestic green methanol

    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    IACS

    IACS reports progress on decarbonisation & digital transformation

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    floating data centres

    New partnership to develop floating data center on retrofitted vessel

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    autonomous navigation

    New deal aims to advance autonomous navigation technology

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    newbuildings xclusiv shipbrokers

    Xclusiv Shipbrokers: Newbuilding momentum slows sharply in 2025

    Watch: Avoid the risk of electrocution for shipboard welding

    Watch: Avoid the risk of electrocution for shipboard welding

    charcoal

    BIMCO: Renewable electricity sources lower coal shipments

    carriers

    Sea-Intelligence: Global schedule reliability reaches 18-month high

  • Columns
    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    Lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Ensure there are compatible adapters onboard

    Panama IMO

    Panama reaffirms commitment to protection of seafarers’ rights

    IMB piracy

    IMB: 50% increase in piracy incidents in first six months of 2025

    Norway

    Norwegian Maritime Authority: 589 incidents in first half of 2025

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    friendship

    Exploring the human need for friendship: A lifeline at sea and on shore

    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    COSCO

    COSCO boxship receives first bunkering of domestic green methanol

    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    IACS

    IACS reports progress on decarbonisation & digital transformation

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    floating data centres

    New partnership to develop floating data center on retrofitted vessel

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    autonomous navigation

    New deal aims to advance autonomous navigation technology

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    newbuildings xclusiv shipbrokers

    Xclusiv Shipbrokers: Newbuilding momentum slows sharply in 2025

    Watch: Avoid the risk of electrocution for shipboard welding

    Watch: Avoid the risk of electrocution for shipboard welding

    charcoal

    BIMCO: Renewable electricity sources lower coal shipments

    carriers

    Sea-Intelligence: Global schedule reliability reaches 18-month high

  • Columns
    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

Contractual issues for methanol in the alternative and dual-fuel future

by Scott Pilkington
March 29, 2024
in Opinions
methanol

Image Credit: NorthStandard

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

Established time charter terms and legal frameworks require attention to accommodate methanol’s rise as a key alternative marine fuel, writes Scott Pilkington, Senior Solicitor (FD&D), NorthStandard.

Shipping’s need to decarbonise continues to drive orders for vessels featuring alternative and dual fuel capability, but established charter forms and terms are unlikely to be fully equipped to deal with the use of methanol.

The alternative marine fuel, whose potential as a route to ship decarbonisation saw orders for new ‘methanol-ready’ ships overtake those set up for LNG in 2023, remains the subject of ambiguity where procurement, bunkering costs, product quality and onboard handling are concerned. These are fertile areas for future contractual disputes, suggesting that robust provisions need to be tailored to methanol’s peculiarities to navigate uncertainties, and to allocate risks and costs clearly and comprehensively.

RelatedNews

COSCO boxship receives first bunkering of domestic green methanol

IACS reports progress on decarbonisation & digital transformation

Consider these scenarios and issues:

  • Bunkering Delays: Limited methanol bunkering stations, and supply mainly being available by small ships could lead to extended waiting times. Who bears the delay time? Specific provisions for methanol bunkering defining acceptable waiting times, cost-sharing mechanisms for delays, and procedures for sourcing alternative fuels in case of unavailability would need to be considered.
  • Methanol Quality Issues: Contaminated methanol could damage engines, necessitating repairs, and causing delays to charter service. When does off-hire commence during repairs or when seeking alternative fuels? Would time charterers be willing to warrant the quality of supplying an unfamiliar fuel and accept the risks of any fitness and off-specification issues? Clear quality and sampling/testing protocols and pre-bunkering inspections would need to be agreed and consequences for contaminated fuel, including off-hire periods and responsibility for repair costs would need to be allocated.
  • Engine Switching Malfunctions: Dual-fuel engines might face issues switching between methanol and traditional fuels. Outlining off-hire events, repair procedures, and cost allocation during downtime if such malfunctions disrupt operations would ideally be addressed.
  • Performance: Speed and consumption disputes may arise if the vessel’s performance deviates significantly from the agreed warranties in the charter. Having an initial trial period for methanol and dual-fuel use, and for switching between fuel types on a “without guarantee” basis may need to be considered before performance metrics are clear and binding figures can be agreed. Tolerances for “about” would need to be carefully defined.
  • Off-hire and Safety Concerns: Off-hire and other disputes might arise if the vessel cannot operate safely with methanol as a dual fuel or if environmental regulations are breached. “Breakdowns” would usually be included as off-hire, but specific outlining of other methanol-related off-hire events may need to be considered.
    Incidents and accidents: Provision will need to be made allocating liabilities and responsibilities in the event of incidents or accidents related to methanol use including pollution risks, damage to third parties, and other liabilities arising from the adoption of methanol as a marine fuel.
  • Crew Competency and Training: Specific provisions may need to be included in charters that require adequate training for crew members for methanol handling to enhance crew safety and wellbeing and to minimise legal risks associated with human error.

Given the likely propensity for disputes arising from the use of methanol as a relatively new alternative fuel, alternative dispute resolution agreements for claims related to technical issues, or performance may assist the parties to reach early settlement and avoid uncertain and drawn-out arbitration or litigation which is likely to be dependent on technical and expert evidence.

 

The views presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.

Contractual issues for methanol in the alternative and dual-fuel futureContractual issues for methanol in the alternative and dual-fuel future
Contractual issues for methanol in the alternative and dual-fuel futureContractual issues for methanol in the alternative and dual-fuel future
Tags: alternative fuelsmethanolNorthStandard
Previous Post

Amendment to MARPOL Annex V/10 effective from May 2024

Next Post

Liberia: Key requirements for ascertaining IHM Part I conformity

Scott Pilkington

Scott Pilkington

Scott Pilkington is Senior Solicitor (FD&D) at NorthStandard.

Related News

China
Green Shipping

China reports rapid growth in LNG and electric inland fleet

July 8, 2025
Singapore completes blended methanol bunkering
Fuels

MPA Singapore: Preparing for a multi-fuel future

July 8, 2025
Germany
Green Shipping

Germany allocates €400 million for climate-neutral shipping & ports

July 8, 2025
GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility
Opinions

NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

July 8, 2025
shipping
Emissions

Cleantech for Nordics: Decarbonization needs to be multi-front

July 2, 2025
green decarbonization
Green Shipping

DNV: Vessel orders show shipping is actively recalibrating

July 1, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA