Alternative Fuels
The push for decarbonisation in shipping is driven by multiple factors, including the Paris Agreement, the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) goals, and by a change in public opinion, pushing investors and charterers to fasten their energy transition.
As the IMO's goal of reducing total emissions from marine shipping by 50% by 2050 creeps closer, new alternative fuels are emerging to help the industry meets this target.
While the fate, behaviour, potential hazards and impacts of oil spills are well-known, many alternative fuels are not as widely understood.
In a series of reports drafted for the International Group of P&I Clubs Alternative Fuels Working Group, ITOPF has investigated the fate, behaviour, hazards and the possible damage and liabilities of the following alternative fuels:
- Ammonia
- Hydrogen
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
- Biofuels (FAME and HVO)
- Methanol
- Lithium-Ion Batteries
Biofuels behave in a similar way to conventional hydrocarbons, with similar mechanisms for damage such as coating and smothering of wildlife, habitats and property. However, with higher rates of biodegradation and therefore less persistence than conventional hydrocarbons, impacts to environmental and socio-economic receptors are likely to be reduced.
Gaseous alternative fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen, LNG and LPG behave very differently and are significantly less persistent in the marine environment. Instead of widespread, longer term environmental damage associated with conventional hydrocarbon spills, these fuels present acute, short term and localised ecological impacts and potentially significant health and safety risks from their hazardous properties (cryogenic damage, toxicity, flammability and explosivity). Although methanol is not gaseous at ambient conditions, it is a volatile, flammable liquid, fully miscible with water and, if not ignited, will be rapidly lost to the atmosphere from its vapours and to water through dissolution. The risks associated with lithium-ion batteries are related to possible thermal runaway if damaged, presenting fire risks and explosion as well as potential harm in surrounding areas from toxic gas.
Overall, except for biofuels, traditional oil clean up techniques are inappropriate for the alternative fuels and response focusses on detection and monitoring through modelling, remote sensing techniques, as well as prevention and control of fire. National authorities should adapt their contingency plans and preparedness programme to capture the new challenges posed by these alternative fuels, as they become more common at sea.
Explore ITOPF's reports on Alternative Fuels
Fate, Behaiour, Potential Damage & Liabilities Arising from a Spill of Ammonia in the Marine Environment
This report takes a look into Ammonia as an alternative shipping fuel. Ammonia is considered to be a promising low- or zero-carbon fuel for the shipping industry, as it is easier to store than LNG or hydrogen and does not have any tank-to-wake emissions, meaning that it does not have any direct CO2 emissions when combusted on-board. However, well-to-tank emissions, upstream CO2 emissions from the production, transportation, transformation and distribution of the fuel to the vessel, vary depending on the source of hydrogen used to synthesise the ammonia.
Categories: Alternative Fuels, Papers
Overview: Fate, Behaviour and Potential Damage & Liabilities Arising from Spills of Alternative Fuels into the Marine Environment
ITOPF, as part of the International Group of P&I Clubs Alternative Fuels Working Group, has been requested to provide a series of brief summary documents to describe the expected fate and behaviours of emerging alternative fuels and to outline the possible damage and liabilities that may arise from incidents involving vessels carrying these fuels as bunkers.
Categories: Alternative Fuels, Papers