Padmesh Prabhune

The Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) held its monthly meet on Thursday November 30, titled ‘Seafarer Safety in Embracing Alternative Fuels’ by Mr Sunil Kumar- head Training & Assessment, The Great Eastern Shipping Company limited, GESCO

Mr Kumar is a qualified engineer with a Master’s degree, followed by an MBA. Of late he has been part of the Indian team involved with the work of the IMO.

The session was a hybrid one with most of the members joining online whereas some of them were present physically at the GESCO auditorium Mumbai. Capt MP Bhasin Chairman, CMMI, in his opening remarks welcomed everyone for the session, while introducing the speaker Mr Kumar who is the domain expert.

Mr Kumar began his presentation reiterating that emissions arising from maritime transport continue to significantly contribute to air pollution. The introduction of several alternative marine fuels and renewable energy is considered an important strategy for maritime decarbonization; especially after the IMO adopted its initial strategy for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) from ships, following which the transitioning to the use of alternative fuels and energy sources has become a realistic need for many shipping companies.

He also stated that unfortunately most of the times commercial aspects are considered more important than safety.

The introduction of several alternative marine fuels is considered an important strategy for maritime decarbonization. These alternative marine fuels include liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied biogas (LBG), hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, ethanol, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), etc., nuclear power -Fusion of Thorium, and electricity – Lithium batteries are also included in the scope of alternative fuels for merchant ships.

The discussion was primarily focused on rational approach in sync with the current international legal framework regulating environmental risks and incidents stemming from alternative-fuel-powered ships, further discussing the potential shortcomings and the parallel application of different fuel and energy conventions for multifuel and hybrid power ships, infrastructural mismatch with reference to pollution prevention and bunkering safety regulation, bunkering facility regulation and freedom of navigation.

Mr Kumar discussed alternate fuels on four basic parameters like properties of fuel (Both physical & Chemical properties) Safety Concerns, Design Consideration, the logical adaptive process needed to adopt the suggestive fuels, be it amending IGF code, STCW chapters, enhanced training, skill upgradation, and regulatory reconsiderations.

The session was quite lively, witnessing discussions as most of the audience interacted frequently with the speaker to satisfy their queries. The highly appreciated session concluded with a vote of thanks from Warden, Capt Philip Mathew.

Marex Media