The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published a new report focused on the safety of ammonia as a marine fuel.
The report was developed by an ABS-led consortium that included the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and the Fundación Valenciaport.
This final report consolidates the study’s findings and recommendations for future regulatory developments. It highlights the importance of using risk and reliability methods for the identification of top risk contributors and lists best practice recommendations in line with current industry standards.
The report also highlights considerations related to the long-term toxicity risks from chronic low-level ammonia exposure, the lack of performance standards for ammonia safety systems, the lack of harmonised guidance for gas dispersion simulations and the lack of technical and performance criteria for the design, integration and maintenance of the ammonia release mitigation system, amongst others.
“ABS remains committed to supporting the maritime industry as it navigates future energy options such as ammonia as marine fuel. This latest report for EMSA reflects our close collaboration with industry stakeholders and academia to provide critical information to advance the discussions around low- and zero-carbon operations for the future,” said Vassilios Kroustallis, ABS Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.
Based on the insights gained from the study, the report includes recommendations that expand upon existing interim guidelines from the International Maritime Organization for the safety of ships using ammonia as fuel.
By way of a survey and online workshop, industry stakeholders sent in feedback that emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of ammonia’s properties to effectively mitigate the safety risks associated with its use as a marine fuel.
Professor Nikolaos P. Ventikos of NTUA said: “Exploring pathways toward more environmentally sustainable maritime transport is essential for society, but it must always be pursued with safety as the highest priority. This is why the role of organizations such as EMSA is so important. By funding rigorous research and making its results publicly available, they enable informed decision-making across the entire maritime community. For NTUA, as a university deeply committed to open science, it is particularly meaningful to facilitate and carry out risk assessment studies, such as HAZOP, that are traditionally confidential.”
Read the report:EMSA Safety of Ammonia for Use in Ship