IMO approves interim fuel guidelines
By on December 12, 2024
Maritime Safety Committee gives the green light
The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee has approved interim guidelines for the use of ammonia fuel, and will allow shipowners to voluntarily adopt the use of ammonia cargo as fuel in early 2026..
Following the 109th meeting of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in early December, interim guidelines for the use of ammonia fuel onboard vessels have been approved. Cargo ships weighing 500 gross tons or more and passenger ships using non-cargo ammonia as fuel can now use the guidelines as a basis for vessel design and systems layout, with work to continue on more detailed amendments to the IGF code.
In terms of the use of ammonia cargo as fuel (currently prohibited by IMO regulations), changes to the IGC code will enter into force on 1 July 2026 that allow for this fuel pathway. A new circular was produced at MSC 109 that will allow shipowners to voluntarily adopt these changes before July next year, allowing ammonia-fueled, ammonia carrying vessels to hit the water in the first half of 2026. MSC 109 also agreed that amendments to the SOLAS Convention will be adopted at next year’s meeting (June 2025) to extend the IGF codes to formally cover ammonia (ammonia is not a “low-flashpoint fuel”).
Explore the guidelines, ask the IMO your questions
Click to learn more. The IMO and Lloyd’s Register join us in January to explore and unpack the new fuel guidelines.
To discuss and unpack the newly-approved guidelines, the AEA has scheduled a webinar early next year featuring Antti Nironen (Technical Officer, IMO) and Liam Blackmore (Principal Engineer, Lloyd’s Register). Join us on January 9 @ 4PM CET (10AM EST), and make sure to submit your questions for our speakers in advance.
MMMCZCS summarizes trends in ammonia-fueled vessel design
Click to enlarge. Decision flow for the design of ammonia-fueled vessels. Fig 1 from Emerging ship design principles for ammonia-fueled vessels (MMMCZCS, Nov 2024).
To assist shipbuilders and owners make the move to ammonia fuel, The Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping has produced a comprehensive guide to ship design solutions for ammonia fuel in oceangoing container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers. MMMCZCS notes that critical to onboard safety is the choice of ammonia fuel storage system, secondary containment mechanisms, ventilation, rapid and reliable sensors and alarms for ammonia leaks, and rapid and reliable shutdown measures for the fuel system. Shipyards, ship designers, operators and owners can use the report to navigate through the main decisions needed.