Some 23 methanol dual-fuelled newbuildings were ordered in January as shipowners’ favoured alternative fuel choice continues its momentum in the first month of 2024.
In its monthly take on fuelling choices, classification society DNV said about 70% of the methanol dual-fuelled orders were in the container ship sector with the rest for bulkers and ro-ro vessels.
DNV said 10 LNG dual-fuelled vessels were added to its Alternative Fuels Insight platform database in January.
They comprised mainly car carriers and tankers, with the remainder ro-paxes.
The class society logged what it said was a record for LNG-fuelled ship deliveries in one month with 24 vessels handed over in January.
“There are now 493 LNG-fuelled ships in operation globally, representing growth of over 100% compared to 2021,” DNV said.
“Strong new order activity continues to demonstrate a promising trajectory in the uptake of alternative fuel vessels,” DNV maritime business principal consultant Martin Wold said.
He highlighted the continuing rapid growth of the methanol-fuelled orderbook
Wold detailed there are now 228 confirmed methanol-fuelled ships on order and said this will significantly expand the current global fleet of 29 over the coming years.
The consultant said the LNG fleet has expanded to the point where DNV now observes a doubling of the number of LNG-fuelled ships in operation between 2021 and 2024, bolstered by a record number of deliveries in January.
“Interest in ammonia is also on the rise, with two orders confirmed in January, and we expect this to continue to grow in the months and years ahead,” Wold added.
