- Alternative Fuel Adoption Slower Than Expected, Says Columbia CEO.
- Columbia CEO Urges Gradual Approach to Crew Training for Alternative Fuels.
- Mark O’Neil Highlights Infrastructure and Investment Challenges for Alternative Fuels.
The CEO and President of Columbia Group, Mark O’Neil, recently called for a reality check regarding the growing use of alternative fuels during the London International Shipping Week (LISW25). In a statement released on Friday, September 26, he pointed out that the runway for widespread adoption of alternative fuels is much longer and much more narrow than anyone anticipated. He urged the industry to take a step back and ensure that all crew members receive proper training, reports Manifold Times.
Safety Management Systems in the Era of Alternative Fuels
At the inaugural London Talks session during LISW25, Mr O’Neil participated in a panel discussion about how Safety Management Systems need to adapt to guarantee safe and reliable operations as alternative fuels become more common.
Gradual Adoption and Realistic Decarbonisation
While Columbia Group is dedicated to achieving realistic and attainable decarbonisation of marine fuels, Mr O’Neil stressed that the widespread adoption of alternative fuels is still further off than many had hoped.
He stated: “At an earlier event this week I was perhaps a lone voice in calling for a reality check in relation to the adoption of alternative fuels. When I got back to the hotel I saw that ABS had said the runway for the widespread adoption of alternative fuels would be much longer than anticipated, I would warrant that not only will it be a much longer runway but also a far more narrow runway than we all thought a few months or years ago. “The reason I called for a reality check was that it was quite rightly pointed out that the number of vessels that are alternative fuel-capable in itself is quite a large number. But that doesn’t mean those vessels are ready to burn alternative fuels.”
Infrastructure and Investment Challenges
Mr O’Neil also highlighted the challenges of scaling alternative fuel infrastructure: “The other aspect of this reality check is do we believe the world is ready to invest considerable sums of money in the scalability needed to provide shipping, and other industries, with alternative fuels? There are huge geopolitical tensions at the moment and there are huge financial constraints throughout Europe. With those financial constraints come different priorities on money – there is a toss up in setting up the infrastructure surrounding alternative fuels or focusing on the social policies. Those governments must decide what is more important and I would warrant it would be social policies.”
Crew Training and Preparedness
Regarding crew readiness, Mr O’Neil said Columbia Group is taking a measured approach: “The question of what is Columbia Group doing to be ready? I say we are ready – but we are realistically ready. We don’t need thousands of crews in our crewing pool with alternative fuel training because the reality is that if alternative fuel ships do come in they will come more gradually – and the majority of dual fuel vessels or methanol or ammonia-ready will probably never burn those alternative fuels.” He added that alternative fuels are expected to arrive gradually, removing any urgency to train all seafarers immediately.
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Source: Manifold Times
