Classification society DNV has reported another strong month in orders for LNG-powered vessels as owners look to slash emissions and costs.
Owners placed in total 31 orders for LNG-powered ships last month, according to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight platform. Compared to the record month of September, orders dropped by 4 vessels.
Martin Wold, principal consultant at DNV, said, “we saw orders across all the major ship segments and again car carriers lead the way; 12 new PCTCs.”
Four of these vessels are the ammonia-ready ships ordered by Hoegh Autoliners, he said.
The October count includes orders by Zodiac Maritime, Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport, J.P. Morgan, H-Line, Cido Shipping, SAIC Anji, Northern Lights JV, NS United Naiko Kaiun, Silversea Cruises, and Pasha Hawaii.
Looking at the global fleet, the DNV platform shows that 226 LNG-powered ships are already in operation with 409 on order.
LNG-powered car and passenger ferries lead the way with 41 in operation, followed by 26 offshore supply ships, and 26 oil/chemical tankers.
As per vessels on order, LNG-powered containerships and crude oil tankers account for most of the orders with 88 and 59 units, respectively.
These statistics do not include smaller inland vessels.