A comprehensive overhaul of seafarer training is required as the industry transitions to zero and near-zero GHG emission fuels. This follows from over 500 considerations from cross-sector consultations that took place during a series of risk assessment workshops, led by Lloyd’s Register’s Maritime Decarbonisation Hub.
These are the outcomes of a summary report, which was produced by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF), in collaboration with Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) Maritime Decarbonisation Hub and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Ocean Stewardship Coalition. The report was launched on 12 November at Seatrade Maritime CrewConnect Global in Manila.
Made possible with the support of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and founding funder Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the report marks the completion of the first milestone of the MJTTF training project for the development of a baseline training framework to equip seafarers with the skills required to safely use ammonia, methanol and hydrogen as marine fuels. It is the high-level summary of the consultations made by over 100 stakeholders during twelve hybrid risk assessment workshops, which took place earlier this year.
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New fuels, new hazards
Zero and near-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission fuels such as ammonia, methanol and hydrogen present unique challenges and hazards to the crew’s health and safety; requiring specialised knowledge and safety measures to be adequately and effectively implemented. However, the current Standards of the Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention do not yet include guidelines or competency levels when specifically dealing with these green molecules.
The workshops focused on the use of ammonia, methanol and hydrogen as marine fuels to gather the industry perceptions on the necessary changes for seafarers transitioning from conventional fuel oil operations to zero and near-zero energy sources for ships’ propulsion. The workshops identified the most significant safety risks associated with each fuel in scope and the new or modified training and competencies required for such a transition to be safe and effective, putting the seafarer at its core.
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Toxicity, flammability and flame detection
Considerations on ammonia highlighted its toxicity as a major challenge and alluded to comprehensive training on emergency response procedures, alongside new personal protective equipment (PPE) standards and process safety measures.
Similarly for methanol, key concerns included the fuel’s high flammability, requiring new fire detection methods and updated PPE protocols. Detailed training on methanol’s toxic properties and corrosivity will also be necessary in the next phase of the transition.
For hydrogen, considerations focused on issues such as flame detection and enhanced fire safety systems that would be vital for the crew, while repeating the need for new PPE protocols to be introduced to fully address hydrogen’s hazard profile.
Upskilling and reskilling
From these stakeholder engagements, the MJTTF training project will develop detailed competency standards and a training framework to help maritime training academies and institutions further draft and implement training materials for upskilling and reskilling seafarers who will come in contact with hydrogen, ammonia and methanol as marine fuels.
A roll-out of the Instructor Handbook to accompany the training framework is scheduled to take place in MTCC Asia in May 2025. The roll-out will be led by the World Maritime University (WMU), who lead this upcoming milestone as project partners.
‘This report crystallises the industry’s views on what level of human competencies and training frameworks are needed for the safe deployment of ammonia, methanol and hydrogen on board ships,’ says Natassa Kouvertari, Senior Lead – Human Competency for LR’s Maritime Decarbonisation Hub. ‘It also aims to capture the scale of change required for each fuel in scope, establishing the foundations for informed decisions to be taken by the regulators and the industry for a meaningful just transition for seafarers.’
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Project funding
The project is co-funded by the IMO through its technical cooperation funding, including the IMO GHG TC Trust Fund, and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, an independent global charity that supports research, innovation, and education with a mission to make the world a safer place.
Tim Slingsby, Director of Skills and Education and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, concludes: ‘Moving towards a decarbonised future will create new jobs. This urgently requires workforces to reskill and upskill. Shipping is no different, and so Lloyd’s Register Foundation champions numerous skills initiatives that support a safe, equitable and just transition to zero and near-zero GHG emission fuels, particularly in emerging maritime economies.’
The full report can be downloaded at Considerations of Training Aspects for Seafarers | LR.
Picture by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
