The maritime industry is at a crossroads, with decarbonization goals looming large and alternative fuels like ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen emerging as potential saviors. But as Natassa Kouvertari, Senior Lead – Human Competency for Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, and Tim Slingsby, Director of Skills and Education at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, point out, the path to a greener future is fraught with challenges, particularly when it comes to training seafarers to handle these new fuels safely and effectively.
The duo emphasizes that the key to navigating this complex landscape is to listen to seafarers. Their insights on the energy transition and the safety of handling alternative fuels will significantly influence the rate of adoption, which, in turn, will have a ripple effect on profits and revenue. “Their perspectives on the energy transition and the safety of handling alternative fuels will significantly influence the rate of adoption, which, in turn, will have a ripple effect on profits and revenue,” Kouvertari and Slingsby assert.
The challenges are numerous, as a recent report revealed, highlighting that these new fuels require tailored safety measures, procedural modifications, and competency-based training. To effectively move towards a decarbonised future, it is estimated that 800,000 seafarers may require additional training within the next decade to operate vessels that run on zero or near-zero emission fuels. Maritime education and training must evolve very quickly to keep pace with the rate of change, whilst also being aware of the risks of creating skills gaps between seafarers in comparatively wealthy or poorer regions. Addressing this skills gap poses an immense challenge to keeping pace with current decarbonisation goals. However, there is a huge opportunity for emerging maritime economies to become regional hubs and leaders in these new green skills, diversifying the seafaring workforce and bringing about the economic benefits associated with job creation. That is why the Maritime Just Transition and its developing training framework is so important. As it gains more and more traction in the wider decarbonisation agenda, we have a real platform to ensure decarbonisation is delivered in a way that is safe, fair, equitable and one that empowers local voices throughout the maritime value chain.
The safety risks identified for seafarers when dealing with these fuels are clear and urgent. Ammonia’s extreme toxicity necessitates advanced emergency response training, upgraded personal protective equipment (PPE) standards that would also account for gender inequalities, and enhanced process safety protocols. Methanol’s high flammability calls for improved fire detection systems and reinforced PPE requirements, while its toxic and corrosive properties demand specialized training. Hydrogen’s correlation to near-invisible flames requires innovative flame detection technologies and enhanced fire safety systems.
To address these hazards, a modular training approach is essential, combining standardized baseline courses with specialized modules tailored to different fuel types and vessel operations. Simulation-based training will also be key, enabling seafarers to navigate real-world scenarios within a controlled environment. Additionally, fostering a robust safety culture, one that prioritizes through life learning and continuous competencies’ assessments, and looks into embedding best practices into daily seafarers’ duties and operations onboard is key. In summary, safe handling of alternative fuels will require a major shift in training programs, calling for a combination of both technical and behavioral competencies that spread in the areas of risk management, emergency response, and occupational health.
The transition to training for zero and near-zero GHG emission fuels will mandate new technical competencies for safe handling of fuels such as ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen, including the operation of advanced support systems and automation designed to mitigate exposure to hazardous substances. Additionally, training frameworks must integrate process safety management, risk assessments, and emergency response protocols tailored to the new molecules and emerging fuel technologies.
The industry is advancing rapidly, with alternative fuel technologies outpacing current training standards. Nevertheless, a goal-based standard is essential to align training requirements with emerging safety risks, ensuring the harmonised application of training frameworks and the mobility of seafarers serving different ship types. In response to the above, the primary focus of the IMO has been the ongoing Comprehensive Review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) and the STCW Code with more than 500 regulatory gaps being identified at the last HTW 11 Sub-Committee. However, it is only until 2031-2032 that substantive development of amendments to the Convention and the STCW Code will be finalized and adopted. In parallel legislation chart a course towards a harmonized set of provisions for seafarers training by the IMO, with HTW11 approving draft Generic interim guidelines on training for seafarers on ships using alternative fuels and new technologies. The specific guidelines address the unique characteristics of certain alternative fuels and the risks linked to
