ICS: Lowering SOLAS Flash Point Limit is "Highly Controversial"

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday December 2, 2014

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Monday said that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is again looking at the possibility of reducing fuel flash point levels, but the issue is "highly controversial."

It was said that reducing the allowable flash point of ships' fuels would widen the availability of marine diesel, thus reducing the cost of lower sulfur fuels for the shipping industry.

Under current IMO rules, per the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), bunker flash points must be above 60 degrees Celcius, but the availability of distillate could be increased immediately if flash points closer to conventional diesel were allowed.

"This is highly controversial because of the danger of fuel coming into contact with hot surfaces in ship's engine rooms, with the potential for catastrophic explosions and loss of life," said Simon Bennett, ICS's Director of Policy & External Relations at the Mediterranean Bunker Fuel Conference in Barcelona.

"But there is a school of thought that says that a future generation of ships, with appropriately trained crews, could be constructed or operated in a manner such that use of low flashpoint diesel would be safe, just in the same way that LNG has proven to be a safe and cost effective fuel.

"This is not yet the current position of ICS, but a discussion is starting to take place."

ICS has also said that the shipping industry is committed to new Emissions Control Area rules and there is "no reason to suggest there will not be full compliance" with 2015's regulations.