The guidelines offer a clearer pathway to manage the specific risks of ammonia, particularly its toxicity and handling requirements.<\/p>\n
New safety guidelines for the use of ammonia as fuel on gas carriers have been approved at the International Maritime Organization\u2019s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 111), marking a significant step towards the commercial deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels.<\/p>\n
The guidelines, developed through collaboration between Lloyd\u2019s Register (LR), the Belgian Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport (FPS Mobility) and gas shipping operator EXMAR, provide a practical framework to manage the safety risks associated with ammonia.<\/p>\n
By drawing directly on operational experience and regulatory input, the guidance sets out how ammonia can be handled safely on-board and supporting early projects as they move towards execution.<\/p>\n
Building on EXMAR\u2019s and Lloyd\u2019s Register\u2019s experience in mid-size gas carrier shipbuilding, the Directorate-General Shipping of the FPS Mobility has taken the lead in the IMO to draft these guidelines. This guarantees that the regulatory framework reflects the real-world practice, enabling innovation while maintaining effective safeguards within a controlled environment.<\/p>\n
The approval is expected to reduce uncertainty for shipowners and designers assessing ammonia as a future fuel, particularly as the first vessels designed to operate on ammonia approach entry into service.<\/p>\n
Liam Blackmore, Global Head of Technology Adoption and Integration, Lloyd\u2019s Register<\/strong>, said: \u201cThe approval of these guidelines provides a clear signal that ammonia is moving from concept to a fuel with an emerging international safety framework. It demonstrates how close collaboration between industry, flag administrations and technical organisations can accelerate the safe adoption of new fuels at scale. Being part of this collaboration reinforces our role as a trusted advisor helping to turn ambition into practical, scalable solutions for the maritime energy transition.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a public authority, we want to facilitate the energy transition by ensuring that an appropriate regulatory framework is in place in good time. Thanks to close cooperation with the industry, this framework is also tailored to the realities on the ground,<\/em>\u201d noted Nathalie Deleuze, FPS Mobility\u2019s Maritime Expert in Alternative fuels<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Celine Audenaerdt, Head of Environmental and Technical Affairs<\/strong>, The Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association (KBRV) added: \u201cThrough intensive collaboration and the combination of strong in-house competence and hands-on experience, the partners have succeeded in developing robust and practical safety guidelines.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDrawing on more than four decades of operational experience and the challenges encountered along the way, we jointly developed these guidelines through a strong partnership. We would like to thank the teams at FPS Mobility and Lloyd’s Register for their excellent cooperation and valuable contribution throughout the process,<\/em>\u201d concluded Kristof Copp\u00e9, Director Fleet Operations & Technical Business Development at EXMAR<\/strong>.<\/p>\n About Lloyd\u2019s Register\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Trusted maritime and energy sector advisors, partnering with clients to drive performance across the ocean economy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Lloyd\u2019s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine and offshore engineering, technology and digital solutions. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world\u2019s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n We also provide advisory services and digital solutions, supporting fleet and voyage performance and optimisation.\u00a0\u00a0Through\u00a0OneOcean, LR delivers integrated digital solutions supporting voyage planning, optimisation, compliance,\u00a0training\u00a0and fleet performance across more than 30,000 vessels globally.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n In the race to zero emissions, our research, advisory and technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Lloyd\u2019s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd\u2019s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n For more information, go to www.lr.org\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The guidelines offer a clearer pathway to manage the specific risks of ammonia, particularly its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":279030,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[273,298],"tags":[307],"class_list":["post-279029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maritimes-news","category-seagoing-maritimes-news","tag-featured-en"],"yoast_head":"\n