IAPH is pleased to announce the launch of its new IAPH website products portal covering the entire portfolio of tools developed by ports, for ports, many of which have been released in the public domain.

IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven commented: “since the formation of the technical committees covering the energy transition, digitalisation and risk and resilience for ports, our members have been prolific in what they have produced for the global port and maritime community. This new products portal consolidates those tools in one place, with many of these products available in the public domain.”

While IAPH regular and associate members have access to all of these on the secure IAPH members’ portal, some additional products, including those produced by the Clean Marine Fuels Workgroup, are now available on a payment publications platform.

Members of the IAPH Clean Marine Fuels Working Group

A comprehensive suite of tools preparing ports for the new fuels
As global shipping shifts towards decarbonisation, the surge of vessels powered by LNG, hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, and other low-carbon alternatives demands not only infrastructure upgrades but also systematic preparation for safe, efficient, and reliable bunkering operations.

CMF working group chair Peter Alkema, in his recent Perspective article in the latest edition of Ports Harbors, takes up the story: “The Group came first came together after the IAPH World Ports Conference in Busan in 2011, going into effect in the mid 2010s to look at developing specific safety tools for ports as shipping began to adopt LNG as a fuel. Nearly fifteen years later, the accumulated knowledge developed in that period has been expanded thanks to a significant body of work being prepared by a closely-knit network of industry specialists from IAPH’s member ports.”

In a recent IAPH-Mercator webinar discussing the impact of the new IMO Net Zero Framework on future port infrastructure, Peter explained the CMF safety framework, which he also presented earlier today in person on day one in plenary at the IAPH 2025 World Ports Conference in Kobe. “Essentially we are talking about system safety which establishes a platform-based approach towards putting processes and procedures in place integrating all safety aspects into a port’s regulatory framework. As a stepping stone we have operational safety tools that include supporting a projects-based approach towards bunker operations for these new fuels in a harmonised way, also ensuring all the correct ship-shore interfaces are correctly in place prior to a bunkering operation.”

The working group has recently completed and now launches its first bunkering checklist for toxic gases, which includes ammonia. This complements completely revamped liquid gases series checklist for every possible bunkering scenario for LNG , or liquid methane as well as liquified hydrogen. Existing alcohol-based checklists which cover methanol bunkering will also be revised and revamped by the end of the year.

Another major addition has been to develop a tool to ensure ships propelled by new alternative fuels can be served operationally, with terminals well prepared. The Clean Marine Fuels Ready Tool provides a blueprint for aligning safety management systems, training personnel, and reviewing ship-terminal interface protocols. By following such guidance, terminals can address both operational and technical safety requirements for a wide range of fuels.

With the new portal containing the entire suite of IAPH products developed since 2022, not only members, but also the wider ports and maritime supply chain community have access to tools developed by both regular and associate members in partnership with UN agencies, industry associations and industry peers.

In the coming months, IAPH will be announcing capacity-building initiatives for ports which have these products as the basis for sustainable and resilient development.
Source: IAPH