IMO backs limited distinction between methanol and ethanol marine-fuel safety rules
In the UK, Ship and Bunker reports the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is moving toward revised safety guidelines that recognize differences between methanol and ethanol while retaining a largely shared regulatory framework for ships using the two fuels. The draft introduces a methanol-specific warning system for toxic vapor concentrations of 200 parts per million near accessible enclosed spaces, alongside requirements covering vapor-return lines and bunkering arrangements. However, Brazil’s proposal for a lighter risk-assessment process for ethanol-only vessels was not accepted. The revised guidelines remain subject to approval, currently expected at the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee in June 2027. The outcome leaves shipowners with a strong incentive to consider vessels capable of using both fuels, preserving flexibility as supplies and prices evolve.
Category: Fuels
