Global alternative-fueled ship fleet is on the rise, dictating new skillset

December 18, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

The number of vessels ordered with alternative-fueled capability is growing with 27 ammonia and 322 methanol-fueled vessels currently on the orderbooks, according to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insights platform.

While new fuels and technologies are key to achieving maritime decarbonization, their adoption necessitates robust safety and competence frameworks, class society DNV said.

To ensure safe operations as these vessels enter service, it is essential that shipboard crew has the right knowledge and skills and adhere to updated processes and procedures, the class society added.

For this reason, DNV released on December 18, 2024, a competence standard (ST) for methanol and a recommended practice (RP) for ammonia, to enable crew and shipowners to tackle the safety risks and challenges posed by the introduction of new alternative fuels and technologies through shipping’s decarbonization.

“Embracing new fuels and technologies is essential to achieving our decarbonization goals, but these advancements introduce new risks, adding complexity to an already challenging operating environment. To obtain a safe, timely, and impactful maritime transformation, we need to ensure safe operations by supporting both our seafarers and onshore personnel. Competence development is crucial for managing the transition safely and avoiding a safety gap that could put crew, assets, the environment, and our decarbonization efforts at risk,” Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO DNV Maritime, commented.

“Introducing methanol or ammonia as fuel onboard vessels will impact personnel ashore, the shipboard crew and the shipowner’s organization. It is critical that the crew can recognize risks and operate systems safely and the organization needs to accommodate for this through i.e. safety management system and other organizational means,” Kirsten Birgitte Strømsnes, Business Development Leader in DNV Maritime Advisory, said.

“DNV’s Methanol ST and Ammonia RP can provide the shipowner with an overview of competence needs for the shipboard crew, and assist in defining training needs, crew planning and input to manuals. The purpose of these documents is to be used by shipowners for onboard familiarization and competence management, by maritime academies and training institutions to develop curricula and courses and by third parties, as a reference document, for certification or verification of learning programs and competence assessments in examinations.”

As informed, DNV collaborated with OSM Thome and Northern Marine when developing the ST and Amon Maritime, Azane Fuel solutions, Yara Clean Ammonia, Wärtsilä, Kongsberg Maritime and Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement/ Ula Ship Management when developing the ammonia RP.

To remind, a DNV study co-sponsored by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) found last year that a staggering 81 percent of seafarers expressed a necessity for partial or complete training to effectively handle the advanced technologies expected to be deployed on future ships.

Additionally, over 75 percent of respondents (Deck and Engine Officers 78%) indicated a need for training on new fuel types, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), batteries, or synthetic fuels. The demand for training on emerging fuels like ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol surged even higher, reaching 87 percent among survey participants.