The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 107th session, agreed to include in its biennial agenda, a new output for the development of a safety regulatory framework for the reduction of GHG emissions from ships in order to progress the work under this new output intersessionally. The Committee agreed to establish a Correspondence Group on Development of a Safety Regulatory Framework to Support the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships Using New Technologies and Alternative Fuels (the Group).

The Committee instructed the Group to:

1 Identify and update a list of fuels and technologies which will assist international shipping to support the reduction of GHG emissions from ships using new technologies and alternative fuels;

2 Conduct an assessment for each identified fuel and new technologies (e.g. the state of knowledge of risks and the technical considerations of solutions, hazards and risks, risk control measures) in sub-paragraph 1 in relation to persons, ships (new built and converted) and applicable operations for these, from e.g. projects applying alternative design and approval process where permitted;

3 Based on the outcomes of 1 and 2 above, develop a record for safety obstacles and gaps in the current IMO instruments that may impede the use of the alternative fuel or new technology; and

4 Submit a written report to MSC 108.

The first report of the Correspondence Group, submitted by the United States, is attached for information.

MSC 108-5 – Report of the Correspondence Group (United States)