Class society DNV reports more LNG-powered ship orders even as Rotterdam bunkering price soars
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.
