Future Fuels for the Maritime Sector

Location: Embassy Room, British Hotel, North Quay, Douglas

Speaker: Mark Bell, General Manager, Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel

“Climate Change” is a major concern to us all, and the Maritime Sector is now focussing on how to reduce environmental emissions.   Taken together, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the world’s merchant shipping fleet total about 3% of the world total, and if shipping were classified as a country, it would rank 6^th highest.  Clearly action is needed!

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is leading the way. Exhaust SOx and NOx emissions are already regulated, and targets for GHG reduction and fuel efficiency  (CII & EEDI) in place.  In particular, the Carbon Intensity Index starts to bite during 2024. IMO is also working on Life Cycle Analyses (LCAs) to ensure any emission reductions in our sector do not cause higher emissions elsewhere in the chain. IMO’s work also includes “future fuels” and this is also being pursued vigorously by the EU states. 

What are these alternatives to fuel oil? We already know about LNG, but how will ships’ systems have to adapt to say Ammonia? Or LPG? Or Methanol? This is where SGMF comes in – with NGO status at IMO, the Society acts as an enabler and facilitator for safety standards and “best practice” across this fast-developing industry, SGMF representing 150+ companies and organisations across the sector, from fuel suppliers to shipowners and equipment manufacturers and Class Societies.  This clear safety focus enables SGMF to react quickly to innovations and produce authoritative guidance notes and booklets rapidly to assist the industry to assess and implement the latest technical & regulatory developments.