The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (26 September) published an article discussing a holistic approach to the challenge of safe decarbonisation and the question on how this can be achieved across several IMO committees which deal with different aspects of regulations for global shipping:
Safety provisions must be developed at the needed pace to support the achievement of the IMO’s goals for decarbonising shipping. This, in a nutshell, was the crux of a discussion at the 8th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 8) which took place from 14 to 23 September.
There is broad support for this concept to ensure a holistic approach to the challenge of safe decarbonisation, but the question is how this can be achieved across several IMO committees which deal with different aspects of regulations for global shipping. Environmental and safety considerations, along with technology developments and crew training are all parts of the picture. Sometimes, politics interferes with the decision-making process.
Since the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) was adopted in 2015, CCC has had a standing agenda item called “Amendments to the IGF Code and development of guidelines for low-flashpoint fuels.” This is in recognition of the fact that the IGF Code, while having many general goal-based provisions, was written chiefly for ships (other than LNG carriers) using LNG as fuel.
At CCC 8, it was decided to expand the scope and amend the title of this ongoing agenda item to read “Amendments to the IGF Code and development of guidelines for alternative fuels and related technologies“, so as to accommodate for alternative fuels not considered as having a low flashpoint.
This allows CCC to deal with alternative fuels that do not have a flashpoint below the 60°C limit in SOLAS, but which nevertheless require specific safety provisions for ships to use them, such as ammonia.
During discussion in the CCC 8 working group on the subject, IBIA proposed that the amended title could be “Amendments to the IGF Code and development of guidelines for alternative fuels and technologies” as this would broaden the scope to allow for considerations not just of specific fuels, but of also emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage. However, the WG decided to insert the word ‘related’ to limit the scope somewhat, partly due to concern about the already heavy workload for CCC.
CCC 8 also agree to invite the IMO’s Technical Cooperation Committee to consider measures to support worldwide implementation of IMO instruments related to safe decarbonisation, including the safety provisions for alternative fuels and related technologies.
The Technical Cooperation Committee oversees IMO’s capacity-building programme.
Photo credit: IBIA
Published: 30 September, 2022
‘SMI’s vision and goal for the next 10 years is to establish Singapore as a world-class Global Maritime Knowledge & Innovation Hub’ says Chairman.
Some ARA suppliers claim slight loading delays; Las Palmas HSFO380 supply to improve with replenishment; South Africa's largest refinery to shut indefinitely.
Singapore Supreme court to auction off the UE Star after January, show documents.
‘To be clear, the activities undertaken by Ang outside of Sea Hub are categorically unrelated to the current non-active status of the company,’ Glen Lim, Shipping Director of Sea hub, tells Manifold Times.
Høglund signed contracts with Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) and Babcock LGE to supply Integrated Automation, Cargo and Fuel Gas Control Systems for six VLEC newbuilds.
Philip Hill is a Chartered Chemical Engineer with over 20 years of experience in fuels and chemicals manufacturing, sales and distribution for BP and INEOS.
‘Bunker barges operate in very local areas so these vessels call at port very often which means it will be a good fit for women with families,’ states Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International.
“Our Singapore branch is under preparation and is expected to start business at the republic before June 2023,” Managing Director Darcy Wong tells bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
Development to supply B35 biodiesel blend officially takes effect on 1 February; local bunker suppliers will be able to deliver updated spec within March onwards, once current stocks of B30 avails run out.
VPS, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, and INTERTANKO executives offered a multitude of perspectives to 73 attendees during the VPS Biofuels Seminar, reports Manifold Times.
Headway will launch a new fuel supply system suitable for alternative bunker fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia; to focus on procurement and construction of carbon capture systems in 2023 following R&D.
Competition for FAME from aviation and road transportation sectors have resulted in some shipowners resorting to adopt more readily available CNSL blends as biofuel for vessels, explains Steve Bee.
