(41bc) Safety Zones for Bunkering Alternative Fuels

Bunkering is the process of transferring product to a ship for use as fuel. Bunkering alternative fuels, such as LNG, methanol, LPG, hydrogen and ammonia, is becoming increasingly important as the maritime industry shifts towards low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels. Each of these fuels presents unique challenges and opportunities for bunkering infrastructure and safety. Some fuels are cryogenic and flammable while others are acute toxics.

LNG is currently the most developed alternative fuel for bunkering, with numerous facilities worldwide. Ports like Rotterdam and Singapore have made significant investments to become major LNG bunkering hubs. Ensuring the safety of bunkering operations involves comprehensive risk assessments and the establishment of safety zones to mitigate potential hazards. Key factors influencing safety include the transfer flow rate, temperature, pressure, and the physical properties of the fuel.

The Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) has developed guidelines to standardize safety practices across the industry, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and security areas, marine exclusion zones, and external zones to protect both personnel and the environment. The use of tools like the BASiL (Bunkering Area Safety Information for LNG) database allows for the calculation of safety zones tailored to various operational scenarios. This tool is specific to LNG. This paper will aim to explore the dispersion consequences of the various alternative fuels for bunkering and compare the safety zones for each fuel.