UK Chamber of Shipping Publishes Safety Evidence Report on Alternative Marine Fuels

The UK Chamber of Shipping has published a report examining the safety considerations associated with alternative marine fuels as the shipping industry moves towards lower-emission operations.

Titled Alternative Fuels: Building the Safety Evidence Base, the report was published on August 5, 2026, and brings together industry expertise to identify and assess safety considerations across several fuel pathways.

The report was developed through the Chamber’s Safety of Alternative Fuels Working Group (SAFWG) and provides preliminary, high-level risk assessments for battery energy storage systems (BESS), biofuels, methanol, hydrogen and ammonia.

Report identifies common safety considerations

The report states that the commercial deployment of alternative marine fuels will require robust design and process safety frameworks.

It identifies several issues that cut across the different fuel pathways, including material compatibility, emergency response preparedness, crew training and competence, and the need for clearer regulatory pathways.

The report also documents known risks and areas where additional research and operational experience are required. The findings are intended to provide a baseline for future research, regulatory development and operational learning as alternative fuels move from demonstration projects towards wider commercial use.

Industry stakeholders contribute to safety assessment

The SAFWG brought together stakeholders from across the maritime and alternative-fuels value chain.

Participants included shipowners and operators, fuel suppliers, equipment manufacturers, classification societies, insurers, legal experts, ports, academics and government representatives.

The cross-industry approach was intended to consolidate experience from different parts of the maritime sector and establish a common reference point for assessing safety issues associated with emerging marine fuels.

Industry calls for safety knowledge sharing

Francesco Sandrelli, Policy Director (Environment) at the UK Chamber of Shipping, said new fuels are moving from pilot projects to commercial reality, and that safety, standards and operational readiness must keep pace. He said no single fuel will decarbonise shipping, since different vessel types, trades and operating environments need different solutions.

Stephen Brown, SAFWG Chair and Technology Manager at Shell Shipping & Maritime, called the group an example of what industry can do when stakeholders tackle a shared challenge. He said it is the beginning of a longer journey, and that it has laid a foundation for future collaboration.

James Helliwell, Vice-Chair of the working group and Commercial Director for Decarbonisation at V. Group, said much of the experience from piloting and testing alternative fuels is not widely available. He said pooling knowledge has produced a clear baseline of key risks that will inform future vessel design and operations.

UK maritime sector also focuses on fuel availability

Alongside the safety work, the UK Chamber of Shipping and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have launched the UK Alternative Maritime Fuels Coalition.

The coalition focuses on issues related to alternative marine fuel availability and the infrastructure required at ports to support the adoption of new fuels.

Together, the initiatives address two elements of the maritime fuel transition: establishing a clearer understanding of safety requirements and developing the fuel supply and port infrastructure needed for commercial operations.