IAPH launches digital version of tool to assess ports readiness levels for new bunker fuels

The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) on recently announced the launch of the first digital version of the Port Readiness Level for Marine Fuels (PRL-MF) self-assessment tool.

This new digital iteration of the tool supports the assessment of the readiness levels of ports for bunkering operations involving the different low- and zero-carbon fuels.

Established as a pilot project in 2022, following joint work by the IAPH Clean Marine Fuels Working Group, World Ports Climate Action Program (WPCAP) and Mission Innovation’s Zero Emission Shipping Mission, the PRL-MF is a fuel-agnostic framework that ports can use to self-assess their readiness and identify areas requiring further development to facilitate bunkering of a new low- or zero-carbon marine fuel.

The PRL-MF consists of nine readiness levels—largely following the schematic of the NASA Technical Readiness Level (TRL). The first three levels concern the research phase, the next three levels address the development phase and the last three levels speak to the deployment phase. There are four assessment areas: governance, safety, infrastructure and market.

Each readiness level contains a list of strategies and tasks that, when completed, will help ports assess their current readiness. By examining the tasks required for each readiness level, ports can create a practical roadmap and timeline of the port ambitions.

Previously only available as a downloadable PDF, WPCAP worked with U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to develop this easy-to-use digital tool that includes a list of assessment criteria, with guiding information to support port efforts across research, development, and deployment phases. 

It facilitates self-assessment by bringing all relevant port personnel working together in a single system where information can be exchanged, saved and communicated as needed. This tool is for use by the ports with the input of any relevant members of a port community, including the port authority, national maritime authority, ship-operating customers, and governments.

“It is important for ports to be able to say to ship owners: ‘we will be ready with this fuel, at this time, and this is what you can expect from us’ – and this tool does just that,” commented Rinske van de Meer, Policy Advisor at the Port of Rotterdam and Program Manager of WPCAP. 

“The Port Readiness Framework allows you to communicate to all stakeholders where your port is in the journey to supply new sustainable fuels or allow vessels using these fuels to bunker – from the research phase, to development and finally, deployment and bunkering of a new fuel”.

Note: For more information about the PRL tool, a contact form can be filled up here.

Photo credit: International Association of Ports and Harbors
Published: 16 October, 2024