PRESS RELEASE

Report Highlights Importance of Closing Gaps toSafely Scale Operating with Alternative Fuels
A new report from MTF provides recommendations on closing gaps in current safety
management and crew training regulations and requirements.
April.20.2023. SINGAPORE The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has today released areport on current gaps in operational management practices and crew training requirements
and issued recommendations on how to close those gaps to accelerate safe maritime
decarbonisation.
The review identifies the gaps to achieve safe maritime decarbonisation within three existing
Conventions / Codes: The International Safety Management (ISM) Code, International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
and The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC); and makes suitable recommendations to close
these gaps. The report also highlights the perceived urgency to close these gaps so that themaritime industry can better prioritise limited resources.
To be able to meet the required decarbonisation targets, all industry-relevant stakeholders
should collaborate towards safe adoption of alternative fuels including on key issues inrelation to the three regulations that are discussed in this report:•••

ISM: Identification of hazards and risks from operation of alternative fuels is essential
for the development and implementation of the safety management system,
emergency procedures and related maintenance activities.
STCW: Industry collaboration is needed to address current regulatory uncertainties,
insufficiencies within model courses and inconsistent implementation of training.
Considering the need for funding the future training course development anddelivery, a fraction of future revenues from market-based measures might beearmarked appropriately.
MLC: Reference to alternative fuels could be made in Part B of the Code andinternational guidelines which will ensure that the member States will address therelevant requirements in their national legislation.

Commenting on the report, Jun Kohno, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs
Maritime Bureau for Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT),
said:“If we are to meet the decarbonisation targets set by IMO, it is important that we continue towork together with industry to address gaps in operational management practices andregulatory schemes. This report spotlights and helps prioritise the changes needed tosupport the safe and scalable use of alternative fuels in the maritime industry.”

Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register which led the study, said: “Understanding thechallenges in safely adopting alternative fuels at scale is a critical step to accelerating
maritime decarbonisation. This research, led by LR Lead Marine Consultant Yildiz Williams,provides much needed clarity on the hurdles we face as an industry in the safe operation ofalternative fuels and the recommendations to overcome those challenges.”
Download the full report by clicking here.
About MTF
The MTF is a forum of Flag States and Classification Societies established to provide
technical and regulatory expertise to benefit the maritime industry. The role of the Forum isto work together on research which it will publish to the maritime industry and draw onregulatory expertise to be able to offer unbiased advice to the shipping sector. It will seek togive guidance on the use of alternative fuels and increased levels of automation in theindustry. Furthermore, it will allow for the safe testing and adoption of new technologies andit will help shape world-leading regulation.
The Flag State administrations include Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism, Japan; the Norwegian Maritime Authority; and the Maritime andCoastguard Agency, United Kingdom. The Classification Society members are ABS, DNV,
LR and ClassNK.
Issued on behalf of the Maritime Technologies Forum. For more information, pleasecontact
Jesse Lashbrook
Strategic Marketing DirectorABS
T +1 281 877 6774
M +1 832 906 0459
E jlashbrook@eagle.org