• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2023

To limit greenhouse gas emissions from ships, numerous environmental regulations and standards have been taken into effect. As a result, alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ammonia, and biofuels have been applied to ships. Most of these alternative fuels are low flashpoint fuels in the form of liquefied gas. Their use is predicted to continue to increase. Thus, management regulations for using low flash point fuel as a ship fuel are required. However, they are currently insufficient. In the case of LNG, ISO standards have been prepared in relation to bunkering. The Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF), a non-governmental organization (NGO), has also prepared and published a guideline on LNG bunkering. The classification society also requires safety management areas to be designated according to bunkering methods and procedures for safe bunkering. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a procedure for setting a safety management area according to the type of fuel, environmental conditions, and leakage scenarios and verify it with a numerical method. In this study, as a feasibility study for establishing these procedures, application status and standards of the industry were reviewed. Classification guidelines and existing preceding studies were analyzed and investigated. Based on results of this study, a procedure for establishing a safety management area for bunkering in domestic ports of Korea can be prepared.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.964-970
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• 2023

As part of the International Maritime Organization ef orts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the maritime industry is exploring low-carbon fuels such as liquefied natural gas and methanol, as well as zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, evaluating them as environmentally friendly alternatives. Particularly, ammonia has substantial operational experience as cargo on transport ships, and ammonia ship engines are expected to be available in the second half of 2024, making it relatively accessible for commercial use. However, overcoming the toxicity challenges associated with using ammonia as a fuel is imperative. Detection is possible at levels as low as 5 ppm through olfactory senses, and exposure to concentrations exceeding 300 ppm for more than 30 min can result in irreparable harm. Using the KORA program provided by the Chemical Safety Agency, an assessment of the potential risks arising from leaks during ammonia bunkering was conducted. A 1-min leak could lead to a 5 ppm impact within a radius of approximately 7.5 km, affecting key areas in Busan, a major city. Furthermore, the potentially lethal concentration of 300 ppm could have severe consequences in densely populated areas and schools near the bunkering site. Therefore, given the absence of regulations related to ammonia bunkering, the potential for widespread toxicity from even minor leaks highlights the requirement for the development of legislation. Establishing an integrated system involving local governments, fire departments, and environmental agencies is crucial for addressing the potential impacts and ensuring the safety of ammonia bunkering operations.