The UK Chamber of Shipping has published a landmark report titled Alternative Fuels: Building the Safety Evidence Base, providing high-level risk assessments for five key fuel pathways: BESS, biofuels, methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia. Developed through its Safety of Alternative Fuels Working Group over the past year, the collaborative initiative unites insights from more than 200 experts across 50 organizations. The publication highlights critical cross-cutting themes, such as material compatibility, crew training, and regulatory clarity, to support the maritime industry’s safe transition to net zero.
London, United Kingdom | August 3, 2026 – In a landmark development for maritime safety and decarbonisation, the UK Chamber of Shipping has published Alternative Fuels: Building the Safety Evidence Base.
The comprehensive report unites cross-sector expertise from across shipping, ports, fuel suppliers, academia, and regulatory bodies to identify, assess, and address the intricate safety considerations tied to shipping’s transition toward net zero.
Addressing the Five Key Fuel Pathways
Developed through the Chamber’s dedicated Safety of Alternative Fuels Working Group (SAFWG), the publication provides preliminary, high-level risk assessments spanning five major alternative fuel and energy pathways:
“Shipping is on a critical pathway to net zero. New fuels and energy sources are moving from pilot projects to commercial reality, but safety, standards and operational readiness must keep pace,” said Francesco Sandrelli, Policy Director (Environment) at the UK Chamber of Shipping. “There is no single fuel that will decarbonise shipping. Different vessel types, trades and operating environments will require different solutions. What is essential is that the transition takes place safely.”
Key Findings and Cross-Cutting Themes
Among its principal takeaways, the report underscores the critical need for robust design and process safety frameworks to back the widespread commercial deployment of alternative marine fuels.
The research highlights several vital, cross-cutting themes that demand industry-wide focus:
- Material Compatibility: Ensuring ship structures and piping can safely handle corrosive or volatile substances.
- Emergency Response Preparedness: Equipping ports and crews with protocols tailored to new chemical and electrical hazards.
- Crew Training and Competence: Establishing standardized certification and training regimes for emerging technologies.
- Regulatory Pathways: Bridging current gaps to create clearer, globally harmonized standards.
Collaborative Industry Milestone
The report is the crowning achievement of the SAFWG’s inaugural year. The initiative brought together more than 200 participants from over 50 organizations, including shipowners, operators, equipment manufacturers, classification societies, insurers, legal experts, ports, and government stakeholders, through a series of technical workshops.
Stephen Brown, Chair of the Safety of Alternative Fuels Working Group and Technology Manager at Shell Shipping & Maritime, noted “The SAFWG is an excellent example of what can be achieved when industry stakeholders come together to address a shared challenge. The breadth of expertise involved in this work has created a valuable resource for operators, designers, regulators and the wider maritime sector.”
Echoing this sentiment, James Helliwell, Vice-Chair of the Working Group and Commercial Director for Decarbonisation at V.Group, added “Significant work has already been undertaken across the industry to pilot and test alternative fuels, but much of that experience is not widely available. By bringing together knowledge from across the sector, this initiative has produced a clear baseline understanding of key risks.”
The Next Phase of Safety
As shipping accelerates its path to net zero, the UK Chamber of Shipping’s working group will not rest on its laurels. Future phases of the SAFWG’s agenda will focus on:
- Identifying remaining regulatory and technical knowledge gaps.
- Developing project-specific case studies.
- Expanding international stakeholder engagement.
- Establishing a centralized incident and lessons-learned database to drive continuous operational improvement.
About the UK Chamber of Shipping
The UK Chamber of Shipping is the nation’s premier trade association and voice for the maritime sector, representing over 200 member companies. Dedicated to championing and protecting the shipping industry, it works closely with government, regulators, and international partners to safeguard the sector’s vital contributions to the economy. Through collaborative initiatives like the Safety of Alternative Fuels Working Group, the association leads the way in shaping a safe, sustainable, and future-ready maritime industry.
Source: UK Chamber of Shipping