Abstract
Abstract As ammonia is being considered for use in the maritime sector as a zero-carbon fuel, the availability of safe bunkering arrangements has become a key prerequisite. Ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering is emerging as an option to limit toxic exposure in shore and other sensitive areas, but its safety must be ensured through a structured assurance process that accounts for the dynamic marine environment. This study applies hazard identification (HAZID) as the initial step in a risk-informed approach to support safety assurance for a reference STS ammonia bunkering case. A HAZID workshop was conducted with subject matter experts (SMEs) to identify hazards and hazardous events associated with STS ammonia bunkering. Given the focus on toxic effects, ammonia release was recognised as the main hazardous event, with vessel collision and vessel separation considered as key initiating events. Based on the HAZID outcomes, recommendations were made regarding additional safety measures and analyses. These recommendations address whether additional measures are required to reduce risk and whether engineering analyses are needed to specify the requirements associated with their performance.