IMO: Ammonia, hydrogen, ethane and Dimethyl Ether need future regulatory work

Ammonia, hydrogen, ethane and Dimethyl Ether (DME) are among the “alternative” marine fuels which may need future regulatory work, IMO said following a recent assessment which is the result of a regulatory mapping exercise conducted by Low Carbon GIA, with inputs and contributions from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

The assessment of how alternative marine fuels and energy converters feature in key IMO Conventions and regulatory instruments aims to inform and support IMO member States and the wider maritime sector in identifying and addressing potential regulatory challenges that could be encountered when considering the use of a particular alternative marine fuel.

The outcome of the mapping exercise can be found on the GreenVoyage2050 website in a tabular format using a traffic light colour coding system that depicts the current regulatory readiness levels categorized as Low, Medium, and High. The categorisation was agreed by members of the Alternative low- and zero-carbon fuels workstream of the Low Carbon GIA.

This mapping exercise has identified some areas where further regulatory work may be required by IMO, but potentially also by other standardization and certification organizations. Some of these areas include the further development of safety guidelines for on-board use of alternative fuels, matters related to quality of alternative fuels, lifecycle GHG emissions and development of engine standards and assessing the possible impacts and risks of spills of alternative marine fuels.

… IMO noted.

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The Low Carbon GIA, which brings together leading shipowners and operators, classification societies, engine and technology builders and suppliers, big data providers, oil companies and ports,  recognizes that IMO has already initiated concrete work to address a number of these matters, whereas some others require concrete proposals to advance discussions in the different IMO bodies.

This regulatory status assessment with respect to the use of alternative fuels represents a crucial piece of work undertaken by the Low Carbon GIA to support IMO Member States in identifying potential regulatory gaps which will need to be closed in the future.

…Tore Longva, Lead of the Low Carbon GIA Alternative low- and zero-carbon fuels wWorkstream said:

What is more, in the context of the recently launched Future fuels and technology for low- and zero-carbon shipping Project (FFT Project), IMO is addressing a number of the identified regulatory gaps in support of discussions in IMO’s regulatory committees.