IMO approves ammonia fuel safety guidelines
Partner Exmar draws on more than four decades of operational experience in running ammonia carriers
(Source: Exmar)
New safety guidelines on the use of ammonia as fuel on gas carriers have been approved by the IMO. The guidelines have been drawn up by gas shipowner, Exmar, Lloyd’s Register (LR), and the Belgian Government agency, Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport.
The guidelines, reviewed by the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, provide a practical framework for managing the specific risks relating to the use of ammonia as a marine fuel. The Belgian government agency used the long experience of the shipowner and class society as it took the lead in drafting the guidelines.
The IMO’s approval is expected to dispel uncertainty that exists among some shipowners and designers and comes at a key moment. The first ammonia-fuelled vessels are due for delivery later this year.
LR’s Liam Blackmore, Global Head of Technology Adoption and Integration, said: “The approval of these guidelines provides a clear signal that ammonia is moving from concept to a fuel with an emerging international safety framework. It demonstrates how close collaboration between industry, flag administrations and technical organisations can accelerate the safe adoption of new fuels at scale.”
Kristof Coppé, Exmar’s director Fleet Operations & Technical Business Development, commented: “Drawing on more than four decades of operational experience and the challenges encountered along the way, we jointly developed these guidelines through a strong partnership. We would like to thank the teams at FPS Mobility and Lloyd's Register for their excellent cooperation and valuable contribution throughout the process.”
