Newbuildings contracted with LNG fuelling in 2021 numbered more than all the vessels ordered with capacity to use LNG bunkers in the past four years, according to classification society DNV.
Martin Wold, who is a principal consultant at DNV and a keen chronicler of all aspects of LNG fuelling, said 240 LNG-fuelled vessels were ordered in 2021.
He pointed out that this occurred in a market where the LNG bunker fuel reached "completely unforeseen high prices" throughout the second half of the year.
Wold included Mediterranean Shipping Co, which TradeWinds has this week named as the shipowner behind a six neo-panamax LNG dual-fuelled container ship order at Hyundai Heavy Industries, among those companies tagged in his post.
MSC made a shift to LNG-fuelling in 2021, also trying to move some of its newbuildings contracted with conventional fuel systems over to use gas.
Demand boost
But Wold also flagged up that there has been an uptick in LNG bunker vessel (LNGBV) contracting and deliveries to supply the growing fleet, with 2021's order requiring an additional 3 million tonnes per annum in bunkers to fuel them.
He mentioned the handover of Polaris New Energy's first LNG bunker barge, the 5,400-cbm LNG articulated tug barge (ATB) Clean Canaveral and the company's new order for a 5,500-cbm ATB.
Wold also highlighted Fratelli Cosulich's order for an 8,000-cbm LNGBV and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) contract for a 12,000-cbm vessel.
He also mentioned Shell's announcement in December that it will charter one of Avenir LNG's two 20,000-cbm LNG carriers, the under-construction Avenir Achievement, to work as an LNGBV.
DNV now lists that there are 35 LNGBVs in operation worldwide, with a further 24 on order. In addition, it details that there are 16 under discussion.
The class society's statistics show there are now 251 LNG-fuelled ships in operation with 403 on order.
Container ships comprise the bulk of those orders totalling 98 ships, followed by car carriers at 56 vessels, tankers on 55 and bulk carriers at 49.
