PRESS RELEASE

Reports Examine Readiness of Emerging AlternativeFuel Options
Updated Framework and extended heatmap report from MTF deliver a comprehensive view
on current fuel options and updates criteria to compare them.
March.12.2024. HOUSTON The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has today released an
updated Framework for Assessing Decarbonization Technologies and Alternative EnergyCarriers and a comprehensive assessment on the maturity and readiness of alternative fueloptions, expanding the number of evaluated fuels covered since the previous heatmap reportissued in November 2022.
The assessment applied MTF’s recently updated framework to an expanded set of eightfuels, including fossil LNG, fossil MGO combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS),
liquefied bio-methane, bio-methanol, green synthetic methanol, green ammonia and liquefied
blue hydrogen, comparing each to the current baseline fuel, fossil MGO.
“We are pleased to deliver this updated framework and heatmap report which builds on ourprevious work by expanding the number of evaluated fuels and explores the critical boundary
conditions for each. Understanding the level of readiness, including availability andscalability, of a variety of alternative fuel options is an important step to helping industry
prioritize and safely deliver the next generation of fuels and enabling technologies,” said
Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO.
“By evaluating a wide variety of emerging fuels through MTF’s newly revised framework, wewere able to get a more comprehensive view and gain a better comparison of how all of thefuels stack up against each other. This evaluation provides a critical roadmap for industry’sadoption of alternative fuels, supporting a safer and more sustainable maritime industry,”
said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, DNV- Maritime CEO.
The MTF framework, led by DNV, covers eight categories of evaluation, greenhouse gas
emission intensity, technology readiness and acceptance, sustainability and environmental
aspects, safety, economic viability, regulatory maturity, skills availability and engineering.
The framework criteria work as a checklist, ensuring a systematic and standardized
evaluation of technologies and energy carriers. In addition to assessing the feasibility of eachfuel based on the relevant criteria, the evaluation also takes into consideration the level ofconfidence in the assessment. Results of the assessment are presented in the form ofheatmaps, aiding the identification of hot spots that are areas requiring more attention orprioritisation to help industry meet ambitious net-zero emission goals.
Work on the heatmap report, led by ABS, concluded with five key observations:

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Well-to-Wake GHG emission performance is critical in the long term: The use of
biofuels and hydrogen-based solutions will provide lower lifecycle emissions(potentially zero or near zero when using sustainable energy sources).
Safety needs careful management for some hydrogen-based synthetic fuels:
There is a moderate amount of data available for using ammonia and hydrogen asfuel. Most of this data is from other industries, or the carriage of fuel on liquified gas
carriers. Additional research and studies are needed to further reduce or fully mitigate
the associated risks addressing bunkering and onboard handling for these alternative
solutions as fuels.
The need for additional training related to handling of more hazardous
alternative fuels is reconfirmed: Training, safety awareness and management
practices need to develop to similar levels seen onshore for these hazardous fuels.
Technology for many fuel options is available with high maturity: In terms oftechnology readiness, all solutions considered as demonstrated, or proven, in a
relevant environment (TRL 6 or above). Use of ammonia and CCS still needs to be
proven to reach a sufficient TRL for commercial uptake. Retrofits are generally
possible with varying engineering complexity.
Supply chain resilience is not known for biofuels and hydrogen-based
synthetic fuels: Supply chain resilience has been evaluated as low on confidence forall the biofuels and hydrogen-based fuels considered, and currently as not feasible forgreen ammonia. This accounts for the current limited fuel availability.

Read more by downloading a copy of the updated framework by clicking here and theextended heatmap 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 is towork together on research that it publishes to the maritime industry and draw on regulatory
expertise to be able to offer unbiased advice to the shipping sector. It seeks to give guidanceon the use of alternative fuels and increased levels of automation in the industry.
Furthermore, it allows for the safe testing and adoption of new technologies and it helps
shape world-leading regulation.
The Flag State administrations include Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism, Japan; the Norwegian Maritime Authority; the Maritime andCoastguard Agency, United Kingdom; and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore(MPA). 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