The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has unveiled guidelines for conducting qualitative risk assessments, specifically HAZID and HAZOP studies, for ships powered by alternative fuels. The publication aims to bolster the processes necessary for incorporating alternative fuels in compliance with the 2023 IMO Strategy on GHG Emissions Reduction from Ships.
While the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued guidelines for designing and operating ships with alternative fuels, many alternative fuels still require a qualitative risk assessment under the Alternative Design and Approval process to ensure safety equivalence with conventional fuel-powered ships.
Handling alternative designs
The new MTF report extends these existing guidelines to address a broader spectrum of fuels and technologies
Current references, including MSC.1/Circ.1455 and IACS Rec. 146, continue to be relevant for the general process of alternative design management, regardless of the technology involved.
Motivation to augment these documents stems from the maritime industry's expanding adoption of alternative fuels and insights gained from recent projects.
The new MTF report extends these existing guidelines to address a broader spectrum of fuels and technologies.
HAZID and HAZOP studies
Central to the new guidelines is the emphasis on HAZID and HAZOP studies as pivotal elements of the approval process for ships using alternative fuels.
The guidelines delineate the procedural steps, define the qualification requirements for personnel, and specify the documentation, reporting, and risk criteria essential for the assessments.
This initiative facilitates the identification and management of potential hazardous events, thereby ensuring the development of preventive and mitigative measures associated with alternative fuel usage.
Growth in alternative-fuelled vessels
Crucial for offering clarity and fostering trust among industry stakeholders via an even application
The guidelines were introduced at the MTF Seminar on Safe Maritime Decarbonisation during Europort on 6 November 2025. With a growing fleet of vessels either newly built or retrofitted to run on alternative fuels, seminars and discussions highlighted the significance of these guidelines.
They are considered crucial for offering transparency and fostering trust among industry stakeholders through consistent application and outcomes.
Rigorous approaches to safety
John McDonald, ABS President and Chief Operating Officer, emphasised the necessity of structured and consistent approaches to HAZID and HAZOP, noting, "As the industry scales up the use of new fuels, it's essential to establish consistent and rigorous approaches to HAZIDs and HAZOPs."
He adds, "A unified framework is critical for maintaining safety equivalence as the industry adopts alternative fuel technologies."
Consistency across methodologies
Alf Tore Sørheim, acting Director General of the Norwegian Maritime Authority, underscored the importance of methodological consistency, stating, "Consistency across methodologies will also help Administrations take decisions with more confidence."
He adds, "These guidelines are an important contribution, supporting Administrations and industry stakeholders in demonstrating safety for novel fuel systems through an alternative design process, in a more consistent and predictable manner."
