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Safety guidance coming for hydrogen marine fuels
IMO is set to update guidelines for the safe use of hydrogen fuels in 2024
Norwegian Maritime Authority’s lead on green shipping technologies, Simen Mildal talked about regulatory development for the safe use of hydrogen and ammonia as a marine fuel during an interview at Riviera Maritime Media’s Maritime Hybrid, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cells Conference 2023 in Bergen, Norway.
During this interview, he said updated guidelines in 2024 will provide advice on the safe handling and use of hydrogen and other fuels on green ships.
IMO’s IGF Code already provides industry standards for ships that use fuels with a flashpoint of less than 60°C.
It will be adapted for hydrogen and ammonia fuels to provide guidance for the safe implementation of these alternative fuels as their adoption increases.
IMO committees will debate adaptions and revise guidelines ready for approval by states from 2025.
Mr Mildal said this will benefit first-movers, technology innovators and shipowners taking early steps in using green fuels such as methanol and ammonia.
Naval architects will be able to use updated IGF Code guidelines to design future ships. “Different ships will have different technologies,” he said. “Compressed hydrogen for smaller vessels, liquid hydrogen for container ships trading along coasts and larger ships moving on ammonia and methanol.”
Mr Mildal also expanded on which fuels will be selected for passenger shipping, offshore support vessels and tugs in the interview.
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