Our guest this week works day in, day out, on a question that may appear technical at first glance, but will be central to deploying new green fuels in shipping: how can we bunker those fuels safely and efficiently?

The ship.energy podcast caught up with Stephen Gallagher, Technical Advisor at SGMF, a few weeks after the publication of its first bunkering guidelines for ammonia and methanol. This milestone, Stephen says, signals that the maritime industry is entering a more practical stage in the transition to new fuels, as the first vessels powered by those fuels hit the water and more are being built.

SGMF is hardly new to developing bunkering guidelines for new fuels. The organisation was first known for its LNG bunkering guidelines, which were launched in their initial version in 2016 and have since become a global reference. 

In this conversation, Stephen explains how experience gained with LNG was applied to developing the new bunkering guidelines, while accounting for the unique characteristics of each fuel, such as the toxicity of ammonia and the flammability of methanol. 

He believes that the new guidelines will help alleviate seafarer concerns about potential safety risks associated with new fuels, but also insists on the importance for shipping companies to foster an open dialogue with crews from the outset to build trust and ensure a safe environment.

Stephen also highlights the need for tailored training, as seafarers must be prepared for the unique scenarios they may encounter, depending on the characteristics of the fuel type. SGMF is working to expand its guidance on training and competency in areas such as ammonia and methanol, by leveraging insights from members and fuel producers, aiming to complement STCW requirements.

As SGMF expands its scope to include new fuels, Stephen says he is optimistic for what comes next. In his view, the multi-fuel era is an opportunity to innovate and improve practices.