Maritime industry faces safety risks amid decarbonisation transition

The maritime industry is facing a safety paradox as it transitions toward decarbonisation. While alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and biofuels are essential to meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) greenhouse gas strategies, they introduce new operational risks. These fuels require fundamental changes to ship design, machinery, bunkering infrastructure, and onboard procedures, necessitating robust safety governance and enhanced crew training to manage hazards to vessels, crews, and supply chains.

To support this transition, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has released a report addressing quantity assurance in marine biofuel supply chains. The report provides a practical approach for shipowners to verify both the total quantity of fuel and the renewable content received. This is critical because the renewable fraction determines regulatory compliance and the green premium paid for biofuels.

GCMD suggests using mass flow meters (MFMs) for transparent custody transfer, noting that the viscosity of biofuel blends must be managed to stay within MFM operating ranges. Additionally, the report highlights the need for specific analytical methods, such as compositional analysis for FAME-based blends and radiocarbon analysis for hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)-based blends, to verify renewable content.