BIMCO Promotes Marine Biofuel Use with New Clause

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) has adopted a new time charter party clause aimed at promoting the use of marine biofuels, in response to the industry's decarbonization trend and increasingly stringent emission reduction regulatory requirements.

Entitled the Biofuel Clause for Time Charter Parties, the clause primarily addresses the legal and operational challenges of incorporating low-emission fuels into maritime contracts. Currently, uncertainties remain regarding biofuel quality, engine compatibility, and the allocation of responsibilities between parties. Stinne Taiger Ivø, BIMCO's Deputy Secretary General and Head of Contracts, stated that this new clause is the result of extensive consultations with shipowners, charterers, fuel experts, and Protection and Indemnity (P&I) clubs.

The clause covers specific definitions and technical specifications compliant with ISO standards, and outlines procedures for the sampling, analysis, storage, and handling of biofuels onboard. It also includes a mechanism for adjusting contractual performance when using fuels with different calorific values, ensuring fair adjustments to speed and fuel consumption guarantees. Additionally, the text introduces operational safety measures concerning fuel stability, batch segregation, and storage limitations, aimed at preventing technical issues arising from biofuel use. Nicholas Fell, Chairman of BIMCO's Documentary Committee, believes the new clause provides a clear framework for the supply and consumption of biofuels during contract execution, specifying the quality standards and obligations that both shipowners and charterers must meet.

This new clause is part of BIMCO's strategy to develop contractual solutions facilitating the maritime industry's transition to alternative fuels. In recent years, the organization has released a specific LNG addendum within the BIMCO 2018 Bunker Clause and developed related clauses to regulate fuel supply in charter parties. BIMCO has also adopted a methanol supply operations addendum and a related new methanol addendum, and plans to initiate the development of contractual solutions specifically for ammonia as a marine fuel within this year.

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