The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued the Interim Guidelines for the Safety of Ammonia-Fuelled Ships (MSC.1/Circ.1687), marking a significant milestone in regulatory support for alternative fuels.
The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) approved the guidelines at its 109th session in December 2024, following their development and finalisation by the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) at its 10th session in September 2024. BIMCO has actively participated in all aspects of the work contributing to these guidelines and to the development of future mandatory provisions.
The interim guidelines provide a goal- and function-based safety framework covering:
- Ship design
- Equipment
- Operations
- Bunkering
- Toxicity mitigation
- Crew protection.
While the guidelines are non-mandatory, they align closely with the IGF Code and SOLAS principles, offering administrations and industry stakeholders a consistent reference point as ammonia-fuelled ships projects emerge. The guidelines aim to ensure that ammonia-fuelled systems offer at least the same level of safety and reliability as conventional oil-fuelled machinery, recognising ammonia’s specific hazards, including high toxicity, potential for explosive atmospheres, and material compatibility challenges.
They encourage early uptake while noting that further refinements will be necessary as operational experience is gained, particularly in relation to toxicity controls and emergency systems.
Read the full interim guidelines: msc1-circ1687-interim-guidelines-for-the-safety-of-ships-using-ammonia-as-fuel-secretariat