Chemical of the Quarter Understanding Methyl Alcohol by lt luKe orr Tank Vessel and Offshore Division U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center piping and ventilation systems for carriage of methyl alco- hol. Typically, the restrictions placed on toxic cargo also include preventing it from being stored next to fuel tanks, though methyl alcohol is exempt from this rule. What is the Coast Guard doing about it? system. There is no current regulation regarding methyl alcohol as a safe alternative fuel for U.S. vessels, meaning the Office of Design and Engineering Standards approves the use of methyl alcohol for this purpose on a case-by-case basis. The office is also responsible for developing and maintain- ing cargo regulations. The Marine Safety Center, however, ensures that vessel plans comply with regulations ensuring toxic and hazardous cargos are transported in a safe man- ner and provides a Cargo Authority Attachment (CAA) to marine inspectors in the field. Marine inspectors verify the vessel is within compliance and, if they are, the inspectors will issue the Certificate of Inspection and the CAA endors- ing the cargo list. Through this team effort, the Coast Guard enforces the regulations for both fuel usage and the ship- ment of hazardous and toxic cargos, enabling safe carriage of methyl alcohol on our nation’s marine transportation About the author: LT Luke Orr works in the Tank Vessel and Offshore Division at the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center. He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2018 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering, and the Uni- versity of Washington in 2022 with an M.S. in chemical engineering. He was previously stationed onboard CGC Vigilant as a student engineer. References: PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/compound/methanol International Maritime Organization. MSC.1/Circ.1621 Interim Guidelines for the Safety of Ships Using Methyl/Ethyl Alcohol as Fuel (2020) International Maritime Organization. “Methanol as Marine Fuel: Environmental Benefits, Technology Readiness, and Economic Feasibility” (2016) What is it? Methyl alcohol (CH3OH), more commonly known as methanol (MeOH), is an organic compound and the simplest of all alcohols. Unlike ethanol, the alcohol found in adult beverages, two ounces of methyl alco- hol is considered a lethal dose. It is toxic if ingested, inhaled, or when it comes into contact with skin or eyes. In addition, methanol is highly flammable in both the liquid and vapor state. The United States produces more than 5.7 million metric tons of methyl alcohol, a process that involves reforming natural gas with steam then distilling the mixture, annually. Methanol is used as a precursor in chemical production for products such as paints, medi- cine, and adhesives. It is used as an antifreeze in fuels and a solvent in laboratories. Why should I care? With the increased desire to use alternative fuels that reduce or eliminate greenhouse gases, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved methyl alcohol as an alternative maritime fuel in 2020. Ship builders have started designing vessels that not only transport methyl alcohol, but also use it as a fuel, which can sig- nificantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emis- sions compared to conventional fuels. Even with known toxic traits, it was not until the 2021 publication of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, published by the IMO, that methyl alcohol was categorized as a safety hazard. Prior to the updated code, it was categorized only as a pollution hazard. This new update also recognizes methyl alcohol vapor as toxic and not just flammable as it was previously categorized. One of the newest requirements is that vessels must have separate 96 Proceedings Summer 2023