The paper submitted to the IMO presents a comprehensive case for recognizing ethanol as a distinct marine fuel with its own technical characteristics, rather than automatically applying requirements developed for methanol. It explains why ethanol and methanol differ in key aspects of safety and how those differences can be reflected in future international regulations.
As shipping moves toward a broader range of low-carbon fuels, international regulations will need to remain robust, technology-neutral, and proportionate to the characteristics of each fuel. This paper contributes to that discussion by outlining a practical, risk-based framework that maintains high safety standards while supporting the safe and scalable deployment of ethanol as a marine fuel. It represents an important step toward establishing a dedicated international regulatory pathway for ethanol within the IMO framework.