Guidelines boost methanol shipping safety

As shipping accelerates efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, methanol has emerged as one of the most practical alternative fuels due to its ability to be stored as a liquid under ambient conditions, compatibility with existing fuel infrastructure and growing industry acceptance.

However, methanol also presents unique operational risks, including toxicity, a low flashpoint and vapour and flame characteristics that require enhanced safety procedures and risk management.

“While IMO regulatory discussions continue, many shipowners and operators moving ahead with alternative fuel retrofits and newbuilds,” said Nick Brown, chief executive of Lloyd’s Register.

“For those choosing methanol, these guidelines provide recommendations to ensure safety management systems appropriately reflects its characteristics as a fuel.”

Developed by MTF members in collaboration with industry experts in methanol fuel technologies and the International Safety Management Code, the new guidance provides methanol-specific recommendations covering all functional areas of a vessel’s safety management system.

Recognising that methanol remains at an early stage of marine fuel adoption, the guidelines place strong emphasis on risk-based decision making, continuous improvement and organisational flexibility. They also encourage operators to learn from hazardous occurrences, near misses and accidents to continually strengthen safety practices.

The report highlights the importance of creating adaptable safety management systems that can support mixed-fuel operations during the industry’s transition, when ships may carry and use both conventional fuels and methanol.

It also identifies human factors as critical to safe operations, recommending that companies assess competency, training, familiarisation and resource requirements according to individual roles and responsibilities.