GCMD releases essential guidebook for safe ammonia bunkering operations

In Singapore, Manifold Times reports The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation has released a pivotal guidebook on ammonia bunkering operations, aiming to enhance safety and competency in the maritime industry as it transitions to using ammonia as a marine fuel. Published on August 21, 2024, the guidebook offers a detailed competency framework derived from GCMD’s extensive ammonia bunkering safety study.

The guidebook outlines crucial guidance on the properties of ammonia, custody transfer requirements, and necessary safeguards to ensure both the quantity and quality of the fuel. It also provides comprehensive recommendations for bunkering procedures, safety measures, and the essential competency requirements for personnel involved in the ammonia marine fuel ecosystem.

GCMD emphasizes that this framework is vital for ship managers, training academies, vessel operators, port authorities, and bunker operators. With the International Chamber of Shipping projecting that 800,000 seafarers will need upskilling by the mid-2030s, the guidebook arrives at a critical juncture. GCMD’s initiative underscores the urgency of developing training curricula and preparing the maritime workforce for the industry’s shift towards ammonia, a key component in the decarbonization of global shipping.

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