Almost 30 LNG dual-fuelled newbuildings were ordered in the last two months, with the alternative fuel seeing a bounce back after a surge in contracts for ships that can bunker methanol during 2023.
Detailing its figures over the last two months, classification society DNV said 21 LNG alternative fuelled vessels were added to the AFI database in August, which proved to be the second-strongest month for LNG orders in over a year.
DNV said a further eight LNG dual-fuelled vessels were added in September.
It said container ships represented the larger share of LNG dual-fuelled newbuildings that were contracted in August and September, with car carriers and tankers not far behind.
DNV figures log 978 LNG-fuelled vessels, of which 540 are on order and 438 are in operation. The bulk of the orders, 204 vessels, are container ships, with the second-largest sector being car carriers, 138 ships.
The class society said the rise in the take-up of LNG as fuel comes after a record month in July for newbuildings contracted that will be able to use methanol as fuel. But while August saw no new orders, some 12 methanol dual-fuelled orders were concluded in September.
For methanol, the container segment continues to be dominant, DNV said, but it flagged up that the first methanol-fuelled VLCC has been ordered along with several orders for bulk carriers.
Its figures show 216 methanol-fuelled vessels, of which 188 are on order and 28 are existing ships. Of the orders, container ships account for 150 vessels.
DNV Maritime Advisory principal consultant Martin Wold said: “We see a continuing growth of vessel orders with a strong pipeline for both LNG and methanol.
“In addition, the interest in ammonia keeps building. Even if we have yet to see the first firm order for a seagoing ammonia-fuelled ship, there is no doubt the interest keeps increasing, and the first order is inching closer.”
