US Coast Guard issues new guidelines for alternative fuels bunkering operations

The US Coast Guard Office of Operating and Environmental Standards (CG-OES) on Monday (28 July) released a new policy letter, which provides Captains of the Port (COTPs) updated guidelines for the bunkering of vessels using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other alternative marine fuels. 

This policy letter, effective July 24, 2025, supersedes and cancels two previous policy letters, CG-OES 01-15 and 02-15, both dated 19 February 2015.

“The new guidelines aim to address the rapid development and implementation of alternative marine fuels given the gaps in existing US regulations, which are primarily focused on the bunkering of traditional petroleum-based fuels,” it said. 

“This policy letter establishes a risk assessment model using current industry standards rather than prescriptive requirements and encourages collaboration with local Harbor Safety Committees to leverage local expertise to address hazards and identify risks.”

According to the guidelines, due to the absence of specific prescriptive regulations for bunkering LNG and other alternative marine fuels, the COTP should use their authority to require that an initial bunkering proposal be submitted in the risk assessment process for bunkering operations.

The bunkering proposal should be initiated by the fuel supplier with sufficient time for the COTP to review for any areas of concern prior to the bunkering operation. 

Once the review is complete, the COTP should issue a statement of “no objection” to proceed with the bunkering operation per the submitted risk assessment and final report.

Note: The full guidelines can be viewed here. 

Photo credit: CHUTTERSNAP from Unsplash
Published: 4 August, 2025