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Classification society ClassNK has released the fourth version of its 'Guidelines for Gas Fuelled Ships'.

In a statement, ClassNK said: "With the introduction of increasingly strict environmental regulations, the industry is now turning toward the use of cleaner fuels such as LNG and more recently other low flashpoint fuels such as methanol to curb their NOx, SOx, and PM emissions. The new guidelines provide comprehensive, up-to-date information on key design features relating to bunkering, hull structure, fire safety, and explosion prevention measures for gas fueled vessels."

The International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2017, will introduce a range of safety regulations with implications for gas-fuelled vessels.

The new guidelines build on the structural requirements set out in the first version of the guidelines published in 2009, with recent technological developments including amendments to the IGF Code and discussions on safety requirements regarding the use of methanol and ethanol as fuel.

Other new updates cover areas such as safety measures for vessels not originally built to use LNG as a fuel. Vessels which meet the criteria for conversion to operate as LNG fuelled vessels are given the 'LNG Ready' notation in accordance with the new guidelines.

The Guidelines for Gas Fuelled Ships (version 4) are available on the ClassNK website (www.classnk.com) for ClassNK 'My Page' users. Registration is free of charge.