The UK Chamber of Shipping has published a report — described by the organisation as an industry first — bringing together expertise from across the maritime sector to identify and assess the safety considerations associated with fuels expected to power shipping’s decarbonisation.

Titled 'Alternative Fuels: Building the Safety Evidence Base', the report was developed through the Chamber’s Safety of Alternative Fuels Working Group (SAFWG) and provides preliminary, high-level risk assessments covering five fuel pathways: battery energy storage systems (BESS), biofuels, methanol, hydrogen and ammonia.

The working group, which was established by the UK Chamber of Shipping to support industry understanding of the safety implications associated with emerging zero- and near-zero-emission fuels, brought together more than 200 participants from over 50 organisations. Shipowners, operators, fuel suppliers, equipment manufacturers, classification societies, insurers, legal experts, ports, academics and government stakeholders all contributed through a series of technical workshops during the group’s first year of activity.

Among the report’s key findings is the need for robust design and process safety frameworks to support the commercial deployment of alternative fuels. The report also highlights a number of cross-cutting themes, including material compatibility, emergency response preparedness, crew training and competence, and the need for clearer regulatory pathways.

Francesco Sandrelli, Policy Director (Environment) at the UK Chamber of Shipping, stated: “Shipping is on a critical pathway to net zero. New fuels and energy sources are moving from pilot projects to commercial reality, but safety, standards and operational readiness must keep pace. There is no single fuel that will decarbonise shipping. Different vessel types, trades and operating environments will require different solutions. What is essential is that the transition takes place safely. This publication is an important step towards achieving that goal.”

Stephen Brown, Chair of the SAFWG and Technology Manager at Shell Shipping & Maritime, remarked: “The SAFWG is an excellent example of what can be achieved when industry stakeholders come together to address a shared challenge. The breadth of expertise involved in this work has created a valuable resource for operators, designers, regulators and the wider maritime sector. This is the beginning of a longer journey, but we have established an important foundation for future collaboration.”

James Helliwell, Vice-Chair of the SAFWG and Commercial Director for Decarbonisation at V. Group, commented: “Significant work has already been undertaken across the industry to pilot and test alternative fuels, but much of that experience is not widely available. By bringing together knowledge from across the sector, this initiative has produced a clear baseline understanding of key risks and considerations that will help inform future vessel design and operations.”

According to the UK Chamber of Shipping, the report is intended to provide practical insights into known risks, highlight areas where further work is needed, and create a foundation for future research, regulation and operational learning.

Future work by the SAFWG is set to focus on identifying regulatory and knowledge gaps, developing project-specific case studies, expanding stakeholder engagement and establishing an incident and lessons learned database.