How can the deployment of batteries on board vessels be made safer while taking into account the operational realities and economic constraints faced by industry players?
SERMA, GICAN and SWITCH organised a technical event dedicated to battery safety in maritime electrification. Among the panel discussions, the session on “Regulation and Certification” provided an opportunity to bring together technical challenges, regulatory requirements and the operational constraints faced by industry players.
Three key areas for action emerged:
- Simplifying certification procedures and anticipating regulatory developments to better manage costs and timelines.
- Promoting a regulatory framework proportionate to smaller vessels, taking into account their specific uses, constraints and associated risks.
- Clarifying the conditions for battery reuse to support the development of circular solutions that meet maritime safety requirements.
The electrification of the maritime sector requires demonstrating that the solutions adopted meet the safety requirements applicable to vessels and their intended uses. For industry players, several questions arise: how can these requirements be incorporated from the design stage? How can regulatory changes be anticipated? And how can certification costs and lead times be prevented from hindering the development of new solutions?
The discussions highlighted an overarching challenge: reconciling maritime safety, regulatory compliance and industrial competitiveness.
Reducing certification costs and lead times
The first key takeaway from the panel was that certification represents a significant investment, which can weigh heavily on the economic viability of projects and limit the deployment of new technologies. The associated costs and lead times can delay market entry and undermine companies’ competitiveness.
Participants therefore emphasised the need to identify ways to reduce costs and lead times by developing simpler, more pragmatic and harmonised approaches.
How can certification procedures evolve to better balance cost control, shorter lead times and support for innovation?
Adapting regulations to smaller vessels
The panel also highlighted the difficulties that smaller vessels may face in meeting certain regulatory and technical standards. Their specific constraints in terms of space, system integration, operation and budget call for a tailored approach to compliance.
Participants therefore stressed the need for an approach proportionate to the specific characteristics, uses and risk profiles of these vessels, while maintaining the required level of safety.
The challenge is to enable project developers to implement solutions that are compatible with their technical and economic realities, thereby facilitating the electrification of these segments of the fleet.
Facilitating the development of new battery reuse solutions
Battery reuse was identified as another priority issue. It offers opportunities to promote the circular economy and strengthen the competitiveness of the sector, but also raises questions regarding applicable requirements and certification conditions.
Participants highlighted the need to clarify the conditions under which the suitability of reused batteries for maritime applications can be assessed.
The electrification of the maritime sector raises challenges that go beyond regulatory compliance alone: managing costs and lead times, adapting technical solutions to operational realities, anticipating regulatory developments and taking into account the diversity of vessels.
These are all areas where continued dialogue between industry stakeholders will be essential to develop approaches suited to today’s projects and tomorrow’s technologies, without compromising on safety.
