Alternative fuels: legal and liability risks owners must consider

P K Mishra and Karan Doshi, of the Indian Register of Shipping, discuss the evolution of alternative fuels and the legal framework

One of the most persistent misconceptions about alternative fuels is the assumption that they are automatically "carbon-zero". Today's ammonia engines, for example, typically require up to 15 per cent pilot fuel. Unless that pilot fuel is itself renewable (eg a certified biofuel) and the ammonia is produced via sustainable pathways (e-ammonia or r-ammonia), the overall claim of zero carbon does not hold.