EMSA has released a comprehensive two-part study titled "Study Investigating the Safety of Ammonia as Fuel on Ships", examining the key hazards and reliability of ammonia as a marine fuel.
Full study available on EMSA’s website: https://emsa.europa.eu/publications/reports/item/5264-study-investigating-the-safety-of-ammonia-as-fuel-on-ships.html
Part 1 focuses on ammonia's toxicity and corrosivity, identifying it as a significant occupational hazard, with toxicity levels starting at 20 ppm for 8 hours of exposure and becoming life-threatening at 300 ppm. The study compares regulatory frameworks and examines ammonia’s behavior in air and water, highlighting the need for further work to address safety gaps in its use and transport.
Part 2 analyzes critical equipment and failure modes, using Fault Tree Analysis informed by experts in ammonia fuel and naval architecture. Reliability models adapted from LPG systems were applied to assess risks in ammonia fuel systems and bunkering equipment.
The study underscores the need for enhanced safety regulations as ammonia fuel adoption grows.
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