Lloyd’s Register adds low-flashpoint notation

The society said that the notation, in effect since 1 January, is a response to the development of gas as a marine fuel extending beyond LNG; the type of fuel the ship is designed to use will be identified by two-letter acronyms for natural gas (NG), ethane gas (EG), liquid petroleum gas (LPG) or methanol (ML).

LFPF is assigned where the main propelling and/or auxiliary machinery is designed to operate using a low-flashpoint fuel in accordance with Lloyds’ class rules and regulations. The notation is appended by either GC or GF depending on whether the vessel is a gas carrier or a vessel other than a gas carrier using low-flashpoint fuels.

Over the past year the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) has been revised and the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) adopted by the International Maritime Organisation. Lloyd’s Register noted that these developments had broadened the application of LFPFs in the marine industry.

Leo Karistios, global gas technology market manager at Lloyd’s Register, commented: “The innovation in gas carriers and non-gas carriers using gas as a marine fuel has been tremendous over the last two years. Our new class notation LFPF is Lloyd’s Register’s response to the market’s evolution. Our rules and regulations are evolving at the same pace so that classification’s role maintains its significance in the marine and gas market sectors.”