CIMAC (the International Council on Combustion Engines) and the Maritime Battery Forum have published a second paper on the environmental impact of batteries in deep-sea shipping.
The paper examines the regulatory framework for battery use in deep-sea shipping, including requirements from flag states, classification societies, and industry standards. While the foundation is strong, the two organisations believe that gaps remain, especially around operational practices and crew training. To address these challenges, the paper outlines clear responsibilities for training and proposes practical recommendations for how regulators, shipowners, and industry bodies can collaborate to ensure the safe and effective integration of batteries at sea.
After analysing the use cases and application areas for batteries in the joint whitepaper by CIMAC and the Maritime Battery Forum entitled Environment for the Use of Batteries in Deep-Sea Shipping, published in 2024, the next step was to identify current challenges prohibiting the adoption of battery systems in deep-sea shipping related to regulations and safety.
The current regulatory landscape for maritime batteries has been thoroughly analysed, and it was concluded that current regulations provide sufficient support for batteries design, installation and testing for application in deep-sea shipping. However, a lack in crew training regulations has been identified. Therefore, impact on crew and the requirements for crew training for battery powered ships is investigated and analysed to develop an overview and recommendations for crew training requirements for ship owners, operators, flag states and maritime authorities.
The paper can be downloaded here.
