Lloyd’s Register Foundation has awarded £378,000 to a new initiative led by the Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology (DBI), tackling one of the maritime sector’s most urgent safety challenges: fire risk from methanol, one of the alternative fuels in the global green transition.
The methanol fire safety tools (Mefisto) project will create tested safety solutions that support the safe use of methanol as a marine fuel and help shipowners meet regulatory requirements. In collaboration with Maersk, OMT Group, Safetytech Accelerator, and Rely On, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Marine Engineering and Maritime operations department, Mefisto combines rigorous testing, industry validation, and regulatory engagement.
As the race continues to reduce GHG emissions, work continues to drive innovation towards alternative fuels such as green methanol. The adoption of methanol is not without its challenges because while it has low CO₂ emissions, is easy to handle and cost effective, it has unique fire hazards. Current regulations require alcohol-resistant fire suppression systems, yet no standardised solutions exist for methanol-powered ships. This regulatory gap delays approvals, increases design costs, and heightens safety risks for crews.
Mefisto will simulate real-world engine room conditions to evaluate fire detection and suppression systems, generate empirical safety data, and inform future ship designs, crew training, and international regulation. Findings will be shared openly to accelerate safer methanol adoption and support the maritime sector’s transition to low-emission fuels.
Jan Przydatek, Director of Technologies, Lloyd’s Register Foundation said: “With over 80% of global trade moving by sea, maritime safety is essential for this critical link in the supply chain. Lloyd’s Register Foundation is committed towards engineering a safer world. This project supports that by generating the evidence needed to guide regulation, improve training, and enable the safe adoption of new fuels like methanol.”
DBI Project Leader Leonard Sang Tuei added: “Methanol is becoming a key fuel in the maritime energy transition, but its fire risks are still not fully understood or addressed in existing regulation and safety solutions. With Mefisto we aim to close this gap by generating the data and practical tools needed to design safer ships, support regulators, and ultimately protect crews and assets at sea.”
Image: Methanol fuel possesses particular fire hazards (source: Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash)
