Deliveries of LNG-fuelled newbuildings have tipped the number of vessels able to bunker LNG to over 500 ships in operation, classification society DNV said.
Some 40 LNG-fuelled newbuildings have already been delivered in 2024, DNV noted in its monthly roundup of alternative-fuelled orders.
“We have now passed the 500 ships in operation mark,” said Martin Wold, the classification society’s principal consultant for its maritime advisory business.
DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight lists 509 LNG-fuelled vessels in operation — almost all of these are LNG dual-fuel vessels — with a further 524 under construction for delivery dates into 2028. The figures do not include LNG carriers.
The bulk of on-order LNG-fuelled vessels are container ships with 191 newbuildings, followed by car carriers with 154 ships and 51 oil and chemical tankers.
Totting up the newbuildings contracted with alternative fuelling in February, DNV said 17 ships capable of burning LNG, 10 powered by methanol and one fuelled by ammonia were ordered.
Wold gave a shout-out to Yara International for firming up its order in China for an ammonia-fuelled container ship newbuilding, the 1,400-teu, ice-classed Yara Eyde. He described the company as “paving the way for new technology in maritime”. CMB.Tech and North Sea Container Line are also partners in this project.
DNV lists 14 ammonia-fuelled vessels on its database, 13 of which are newbuildings and one retrofit.
The classification society also details that there are 236 methanol-fuelled vessels on order and 31 existing ships.
