Classification society DNV has added 8 LNG dual-fuel ships to its Alternative Fuels Insight platform last month.
The first quarter of this year has been slow for LNG-powered newbuild orders after a record 2022 with 222 orders.
In January, DNV reported no orders for LNG-powered vessels, while there were 10 LNG dual-fuel ships and 22 methanol-powered vessels ordered in February.
“A slightly slower month in March as we added 10 ships with alternative fuels propulsion to our AFI database, eight of which are LNG-fueled,” Martin Wold, principal consultant at DNV’s maritime advisory business, said on Tuesday.
During the month under review, Samskip contracted two hydrogen-powered containership at India’s Cochin Shipyard.
“No new methanol orders were added, but the pipeline keeps building so next month may likely see a high count again,” Wold said.
379 LNG-powered ships in operation
DNV’s platform shows that 379 LNG-powered ships are already in operation, while owners placed orders for 515 LNG-fueled vessels.
LNG-powered crude oil tankers lead the way with 54 in operation, followed by 46 containerships, 44 oil/chemical tankers, and 43 passenger ferries.
As per vessels on order, LNG-powered containerships account for a big part of the orders with 188 units. Owners also ordered 121 car carriers, 44 oil and chemical tankers, and 42 bulk carriers.
These statistics do not include smaller inland vessels or dual-fuel LNG carriers.
44 LNG bunkering vessels and 176 LPG-powered ships
Besides LNG-powered vessels, there are 44 LNG bunkering vessels in operation and 20 on order, the platform shows.
In addition to 894 confirmed LNG-powered ships, the fleet powered by alternative fuels also includes 176 LPG-powered ships, 106 methanol-fueled vessels, and 27 hydrogen-fueled vessels, according to the platform.