Classification society DNV says there are now at least 200 LNG-powered ships in operation around the globe as orders for such vessels continue to rise.
Owners placed in total 15 orders for LNG-powered ships in May, according to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight platform.
This compares to record 31 ships in April and 21 in March.
Growth in May orders was driven by large Capesize bulkers, followed by small tankers but also a few tugs, Martin Wold, principal consultant at DNV, said.
The orders include Eastern Pacific Shipping’s six LNG-powered dry bulk carriers which would go on charter to mining giant Rio Tinto but also orders by Canada’s McAsphalt and Germany’s John T. Essberger.
More than 500 LNG-fueled ships
As per vessels in operation, the DNV classed research vessel Atair became the 200th LNG-powered ship to go in operation, Wold said.
In addition, the global orderbook tipped 300, so in total there are now more than 500 LNG-fueled ships confirmed, Wold added.
The DNV platform shows that LNG-powered car and passenger ferries lead the way with 43 in operation, followed by 26 offshore supply ships, and 21 oil/chemical tankers.
As per vessels on order, LNG-powered containerships and crude oil tankers account for most of the orders with 57 units, each.
These statistics do not include smaller inland vessels such as GNG Ocean’s 50 LNG-powered bulkers that will be deployed on the Pearl River in China’s Guangdong province.