Draft interim guidelines aimed at providing international standard provisions for ships using fuel cell power installations have been agreed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO’s) Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 7).
The draft interim guidelines were presented to the Sub-Committee earlier this month, and cover issues including fire systems and gas/vapour detection, and are intended to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electrical and/or thermal energy through the use of fuel cell technology.
A fuel cell is a source of electrical power in which the chemical energy of a fuel cell fuel is converted directly into electrical and thermal energy by electrochemical oxidation. Fuel cells can operate using hydrogen (which has the potential to be explosive) as the fuel source.
Technological innovation and the global introduction of alternative fuels and/or energy sources for international shipping will be integral to achieving the Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships.
IMO said: “The development of these interim guidelines for safety of ships using fuel cells is part of the important work being carried out by the Sub-Committee in the context of shipping’s need for new fuels and propulsion systems to meet decarbonisation ambitions set out in the Initial IMO GHG Strategy.”
GHG measures
Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 76), in June, adopted a work plan on the concrete way forward to make progress with candidate mid- and long-term measures, including measures to incentivize the move away from fossil fuels to low- and zero-carbon fuels to achieve decarbonization of international shipping.
The Strategy also promotes support for developing countries, especially Small Island developing States (SIDS), and least developed countries (LDCs).
MEPC 76 also approved the Work Plan to Progress development of mid- and long-term GHG reduction measures in line with the Initial IMO Strategy on, Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, and its programme of follow-up actions.
The development of these interim guidelines for safety of ships using fuel cells is part of the important work being carried out by the Sub-Committee in the context of shipping’s need for new fuels and propulsion systems to meet decarbonisation ambitions set out in the Initial IMO GHG Strategy.
Work Plan
The Work Plan aims at supporting the achievement of the vision and the levels of ambition agreed in the Initial Strategy and consist of three main phases:
Phase I – Spring 2021 to Spring 2022: Collation and initial consideration of proposals for measures in order to be able to understand and compare their main features and implications so as to identify the key issues to consider in relation to each proposed measure, and their potential impacts on States.
Phase II – Spring 2022 to Spring 2023: Assessment and selection of measure(s) to further develop. Decisions on measures to develop as a priority may be taken in conjunction with the revision of the Initial Strategy based on their feasibility, effectiveness to deliver the long-term levels of ambition of the Initial Strategy and their potential impacts on States.
Phase III – Development of (a) measure(s) to be finalized within (an) agreed target date(s). In the case of amending existing legal instruments, amendments will be prepared as appropriate. For developing a new legal instrument, a framework for consideration by the MEPC will be prepared to decide on the way forward. To support this process, a detailed outline of the framework supporting information and assessment of how the selected measure(s) will meet the long-term levels of ambition could be undertaken.
Phase III target date(s) are to be agreed in conjunction with the IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.
The implementation of the Work Plan includes the assessment of impacts on States of the proposed measures in accordance with the procedure for assessing impacts on States of candidate measures set out in Circular MEPC.1/Circ.885, taking into account the outcome of the lessons-learned exercise from the comprehensive impact assessment of the short-term measure.
Once a measure is adopted and enacted, implementation and impacts will be kept under review, upon request from Member States, so that any necessary adjustments may be made.
Already, Intersessional Working Group (ISWG-GHG) 9 will conclude its meeting tomorrow (Wednesday), and ISWG-GHG 10 18-22 October 2021, ahead of MEPC 77, which is scheduled to meet 22-26 November 2021. ISWG-GHG 10, will use Phase I of the Work Plan to guide its consideration of possible mid-term GHG reduction measures.
Meanwhile, the draft interim guidelines will be forwarded to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval at its 105th session, scheduled to meet in April 2022.
The development of these interim guidelines for safety of ships using fuel cells is part of the important work being carried out by the Sub-Committee in the context of shipping’s need for new fuels and propulsion systems to meet decarbonisation ambitions set out in the Initial IMO GHG Strategy.
