Concawe has published new guidelines for assessing whether materials used in marine fuel production and blending are suitable for onboard use.

The framework is designed to determine whether new materials are safe, compatible, and effective when used in marine fuels, according to a report shared by Lloyd's Register testing service FOBAS on Friday. FOBAS contributed to the report. The guidance comes as the maritime sector increasingly explores alternative feedstocks and bio-derived blending components, driven by regulatory pressure to reduce emissions under IMO frameworks and growing availability of non-conventional materials entering the bunker supply chain.

The guidelines cover both conventional and non-conventional materials, including off-specification FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters), vegetable oils, biomass waste, used oils, recycled materials, and forestry residues.

A two-level assessment process is introduced under the framework. Level 1 is carried out by the fuel producer or supplier to establish whether a material can be used as a fuel or blending component without further evaluation. If additional assessment is needed, Level 2 can involve the fuel user and other stakeholders, with shore-based testing and potentially sea trials used to confirm performance.

The guidelines focus specifically on technical suitability and do not assess lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions or other sustainability considerations. This means shipowners and operators relying on these materials for regulatory emissions compliance will still need separate verification of lifecycle GHG performance through applicable certification schemes.

Concawe, originally established in 1963 by a small group of leading oil companies to research environmental issues relevant to the oil industry, is a European organization that continues to conduct scientific research on behalf of the refining sector.

The full report is available at Concawe's official website.