Gexcon to present at Gastech Exhibition & Conference 2023, Singapore

The maritime industry is fundamental to the world’s logistics infrastructure, enabling the global economy. The maritime industry has made clear its intention to transition to carbon-neutral shipping, given its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the emission of pollutants, including sulphur and nitrogen oxides. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set an initial strategy outlining a vision and measures to reduce and, eventually, phase out greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. 

A key maritime decarbonisation pathway is transitioning to using low or zero-carbon alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol. As part of this, it is important that the adoption of these alternative fuels includes consideration of safety as a fundamental enabler for the widespread use of these fuels. 

This presentation investigates the risks and potential consequences of several design considerations for alternative fuel ships. Safety is of paramount importance; therefore, stakeholders across the value chain should understand the hazards associated with these fuels so that the risks can be appropriately evaluated with the inclusion of suitable mitigation measures to reduce these risks to tolerable levels. 

This paper will present a series of safety case studies for scopes of work that Gexcon have been involved with to support the design development of alternative fuel ships.  The risk analysis and the design considerations have been supported by the industry-leading advanced consequence modelling tool, FLACS. The case studies investigate various aspects of alternative fuel ship components, including risk-based approvals, design of fuel cells, hybrid batteries and exhaust systems. The results presented will discuss important safety considerations, and recommend practical mitigation measures, to support the safe design of alternative fuel ships.