Page 20 - 2025 - Q1 - Minerva in Focus

MINERVA IN FOCUS Training personnel in the use of LNG as fuel

The shipping industry
is taking steps towards
adopting low- and zero-
GHG emission fuels such
as ammonia, methanol,
and hydrogen to power the
global fleet. Recognising
the urgency to meet the IMO
targets, this transition
to greener alternatives
will draw heavily on the
extensive experience gained
from using Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG), which
has provided the maritime
workforce with valuable
safety lessons.

Building on LNG’s Since the introduction of LNG training rules in 2017, over
70,000 seafarers have been certified in handling LNG, learn-
ing skills such as managing cryogenic storage, preventing
safety legacy gas ignition, and operating dual-fuel engines.
While LNG training provisions under the IGF Code have
been successfully applied, future fuels pose additional safety
to design training challenges. These include ammonia’s toxicity, methanol’s
flammability, and hydrogen’s cryogenic and explosive risks.
At the 11 session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Human
th
for alternative fuels Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW11), held in Lon-
don from 10-14 February 2025, training for alternative fuels
was a key agenda item. Delegations from Member States
and experts discussed revising the International Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
by Anastasia Kouvertari, Seafarers (STCW) Code to prepare crews for emerging risks.
Senior Lead – Human Competency, The Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF), a cross-sec-
LR Maritime Decarbonisation Hub toral coalition focused on seafarer safety, made significant
contributions to HTW11’s outcomes. More specifically, the
Joint Submission of ICS and ITF at HTW11, both partners of
the MJTTF, proposed competencies and detailed Knowledge,
Understanding, and Proficiencies (KUPs) for alternative fuels.
Moreover, the table of competencies included in the joint ICS/
ITF submission served as the baseline for the commence-
ment of work on the training provisions for the safe handling
of methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen as marine fuels.
Finally, the draft interim generic guidelines for training sea-
farers working on ships using alternative fuels and new
technologies were agreed upon and will be further reviewed
and adopted by the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee
The LNG training model (MSC 110) in June 2025.
The LNG training model demonstrates that effective training
demonstrates that effective results in safer operations. The IMO is now expanding this
model to future fuels. By combining the lessons learned
training results in safer from LNG operations with the training considerations de-
operations rived from the technical work of the MJTTF, the industry
aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of the maritime
workforce for a safety-first approach.

18 ISSUE 31 / Q1 2025