The introduction of several alternative marine fuels is considered an important strategy for maritime decarbonization. These alternative marine fuels include liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied biogas (LBG), hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, ethanol, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), etc. In some studies, nuclear power and electricity are also included in the scope of alternative fuels for merchant ships. However, the operation of alternative-fuel-powered ships has some special risks, such as fuel spills, vapor dispersion and fuel pool fires. The existing international legal framework does not address these risks sufficiently. This research adopts the method of legal analysis to examine the existing international legal regime for regulating the development of alternative-fuel-powered ships. From a critical perspective, it evaluates and predicts the consequences of these policies together with their shortcomings. Also, this research explores the potential solutions and countermeasures that might be feasible to deal with the special marine environmental risks posed by alternative-fuel-powered ships in the future.

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The Five-Year Plans are China’s most important macroeconomic and social management tool, setting goals and directions for the national economic and social development vision. To date, China has implemented 13 periods of Five-Year Plans. On March 12, 2021, the Chinese government adopted its 14th Five-Year Plan, which requires breakthrough the key core technologies of marine engineering and cultivating and expanding the marine engineering equipment industry. This research conducts a policy analysis to comprehensively examine the development plans for the marine engineering equipment industry in these 14th Five-Year Plans issued by China’s central level and local level governments. By summarizing and analyzing these policies pertaining to the marine engineering equipment industry, it aims to show a holistic picture for the new policy developments in China’s new five-year period. This paper also highlights the challenges and pressures that might be faced by the Chinese authorities in the policy implementation stage.

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