LNG

European classification society DNV said there were a total of eight new vessels with alternative fuel propulsion ordered in November with four of them LNG-powered ships as the sector showed continued growth, helped by lower LNG bunker prices at under $890 a tonne in markets like Rotterdam to improve the shipping economics outlook.

Among the ships the other four were methanol-powered and all eight shipping were in the roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) ferry and car carrier sectors.

DNV said that so far in 2023, the platform has logged 268 new orders for alternative fuel vessels, including 112 LNG-fuelled and 152 methanol-powered ships.

The months of June and July saw the most activity related to LNG with 47 new orders combined, whereas July propelled methanol-powered vessels across the 200 ships mark with 48 new orders.

Strong market

“While November's performance may not have matched the volume of previous months, the overall enthusiasm and promising trajectory remain for both LNG and methanol,” said Martin Wold, Principal Consultant in DNV's Maritime Advisory business.

“In general, the pipeline for both announced and unannounced projects remains strong, indicating that the pace will pick up again,” Wold explained.

“However, it's worth noting that the momentum we see in the tanker and bulk segments continues to experience a more gradual acceleration,” he added.

There are currently 988 LNG-fuelled vessels on order or in operation worldwide. This list comprises 528 ships to be delivered through 2028 and 460 LNG-powered ships on the water.

About 198 of these newbuild orders are for LNG-powered containerships and a further 139 vessels are Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), while oil and chemical tankers are in third with 48 orders and the fourth-highest segment is for crude oil tankers with 36 orders.

There are also 24 cruise ships and 18 tugs in the order book along with 11 RoPax vessels as well as single-figure numbers for car and passenger ferries, general cargo ships, offshore supply ships and fishing vessels.

Rotterdam prices

This DNV data does not include smaller inland vessels and barges that are part, for example, of the Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp (ARA) refining hub transportation in northwest Europe or trading on major European rivers.

LNG bunkering fuel costs in Rotterdam have declined steadily since the start of the year.

LNG bunkers at Rotterdam were priced in November at the start of December 2023 at $887 per tonne compared $998 at the start of November 2023 and $1,392 per tonne at the start of January.

Among other emissions-reducing fuels, the price of Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) at the Dutch port was less volatile than LNG.

The last ULSFO quote in Rotterdam showed only a slight rise since the start of the year to $558 per tonne at the beginning of December 2023 compared with $556 per tonne at the start of January 2023.

European maritime classification society DNV said that there was still momentum in orders for LNG-powered vessels from ship owners in the month of November even at a time of very elevated LNG bunker prices in ports such as Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

According to the latest figures from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, 17 LNG vessels were added in November with container vessels and car carriers constituting nearly two thirds of the orders.

The total order figure for LNG-fuelled ships for the year to date has now reached 203 and the overall total is 857 ships operating or on order.

“With the preliminary agreement at the European Union last week that shipping would be included in the EU's Emissions Trading System starting from 2024, all low-carbon options now makes even more sense,” said Martin Wold, Principal Consultant in DNV’s Maritime Advisory business.

“Methane emissions will also be included, so methane slip from engines will come under even greater scrutiny,” added Wold.

Containerships lead

The DNV data showed that the total number of LNG-powered ships in operation or on order at the end of November 2022 comprised in the largest sectors 42 containerships in operation and 176 on order, 10 car carriers operating and 106 on order, 46 crude oil tankers operating and 43 on order and 42 oil-chemical tankers operating and 46 on order.

There were also 68 bulk carriers using and planning to use LNG, 50 car and passenger ferries, 39 cruise liners, 38 tugs, 37 offshore supply vessels and 32 RoPax ships.

This data does not include smaller inland vessels and barges that are part of the Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp (ARA) refining hub transportation in northwest Europe.

Analysts note that LNG remained the preferred low-carbon solution despite current gas pricing which is expected to last into the near future.

That’s as LNG priced in fuel oil terms at Rotterdam increased on December 6 to $2,414 a tonne compared with $1,890 per tonne on November 6.

Among other emissions-reducing fuels, Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) at the Dutch port declined over the past month to $690.00 per tonne on December 6 versus $923.50 per tonne on November 6.

European maritime classification society DNV said that ship owners placed orders for 30 more LNG-fuelled vessels in the month of May 2022 even as bunkering fuel prices were at elevated levels in ports such as Rotterdam in the Netherlands.