Agreement on Revised Safety Guidelines for Methanol- and Ethanol-Fueled Ships
Overview
The 12th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers agreed on draft revisions to safety guidelines for methanol- and ethanol-fueled ships and began work on safety guidelines for onboard carbon dioxide capture and storage systems (OCCS). The draft revisions are expected to be approved by the Maritime Safety Committee in June 2027. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism says that many of its proposals on fuel-related safety requirements were incorporated into the draft revisions.
Key points
- The committee agreed on draft revisions covering all 18 chapters of the guidelines for ships fueled by methanol or ethanol.
- Work began on OCCS safety guidelines, with agreement to develop guidelines that are goal-based and technology-neutral.
- Many of Japan’s proposals were incorporated into the draft revisions for fuel-fueled ships.
Overview
The 12th session of the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 12) was held from September 14 to 18, 2026, at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London, United Kingdom. The agenda included revisions to safety guidelines for fuel-fueled ships and the development of safety guidelines for onboard carbon dioxide capture and storage systems (OCCS).
Interim safety guidelines for methanol- and ethanol-fueled ships were developed in 2020, and revisions have been considered in light of accumulated technical knowledge.
Details
The draft revisions add a new chapter on “Protection of the Crew.” Japan proposed strengthening leak detection and ventilation requirements and clarifying layout requirements for onboard fuel bunkering locations, as well as rationalizing requirements for fuel tank layout and fuel preparation room ventilation. Japan contributed to discussions from the perspective of achieving both improved safety and reasonable regulation.
The draft revisions for fuel-fueled ships are expected to be approved at the 113th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 113), scheduled for June 2027.
OCCS are systems that capture and store carbon dioxide emitted by ships. Safety guidelines will be considered as part of efforts to establish a framework supporting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. A correspondence group will be established to advance detailed discussions.