Bureau Veritas classes CMA CGM’s first LNG dual fuel megaship
Bureau Veritas has classed CMA CGM Notre Dame, a 24,092 TEU LNG dual-fuel ultra-large container ship delivered by Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding, marking the first in a planned series of 24 vessels for CMA CGM.
CMA CGM preps new LNG boxship
The French shipping firm CMA CGM is preparing to deploy its new LNG-fuelled containership Notre Dame on its Asia-to-Europe service. The vessel made its maiden call at Yangshan Port in Shanghai on May 22 and is now en route to Le Havre, France, where it will be named in early June. The 24,211 TEU vessel is the first of 10 ships due for delivery through to 2028.
Shippers hesitate to expedite US LNG cargoes via Panama Canal
Shipping companies and LNG portfolio players are slowly returning to the Panama Canal, where a two-year drought restrained traffic. As northern-hemisphere winter weather is sending natural gas demand soaring, most US LNG cargoes are currently looking for a home in Europe and avoid having to queue up for a costly Panama Canal transit.
Cosco dives into LNG dual-fuel boxships with CSSC mega-order
Cosco Shipping is expanding its exposure on LNG-capable tonnage with an order for 87 new vessels from several yards affiliated with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The order, valued at more than RMB 50 billion (about US$7 billion), covers container ships, bulk carriers, tankers and car carriers scheduled to be delivered through to 2030.
LNG-fuelled vessel orders surge in 2025; DNV finds
Orders for LNG-fuelled vessels reached 14.2 million gross tonnes in H1 2025 alone, more than 70% of the total alternative-fuelled tonnage ordered during the period, data from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform shows.
This surge reflects industry’s confidence in LNG as a scalable transitional fuel. DNV analysts see a “concerted push by shipowners to future-proof assets” amid tightening emissions regulations.
Container segment in the lead
A total of 87 LNG-fuelled vessels were ordered between January and June 2025. The container shipping sector is in the lead by a wide margin, with 81 of the 87 LNG-fuelled vessels, amounting to 13.6 million gross tons, destined for global liner operators. Leading container carriers are locking in LNG dual-fuel capabilities to meet forthcoming IMO and EU decarbonisation targets, including FuelEU Maritime and the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) framework.
“LNG is clearly not a fringe option anymore—it’s a mainstream fuel choice, especially in container shipping,” commented Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime at DNV. “The rise in LNG orders signals that shipowners are prioritizing compliance, optionality, and access to fuel infrastructure. Even as the broader newbuild market cools, investments in LNG-fuelled vessels remain resilient.”
Uptick in LNG bunkering
LNG bunkering capacity also expanded notably: 13 LNG bunkering vessels were ordered in the first half of this year, equivalent to more than 20% of the current global fleet of 62 operational LNG bunkering ships. February alone saw eight LNG bunkering vessel orders, the strongest month on record for this segment. According to DNV, this underscores how port infrastructure and supply chain readiness are evolving in tandem with vessel demand.
Though zero-emission fuels like ammonia and hydrogen are still in early development, LNG offers immediate CO₂, NOₓ, SOₓ, and particulate matter reductions compared to conventional marine fuels. When combusted in advanced engines and supported by bio-LNG or synthetic LNG blends, emissions can be y reduced significantly. That way, shipowner can comply with upcoming lifecycle assessment (LCA) rules currently being finalized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Regulatory inflection point
As the maritime sector approaches a critical regulatory inflection point in 2026–2030, the strong pipeline of LNG-fuelled newbuilds ordered in 2025 signals not just a trend, but a decisive strategic shift.
“What we’re seeing is a pragmatic approach to decarbonisation. LNG offers a combination of technical maturity, global availability, and regulatory headroom. For many shipowners, it’s the safest bet in the current landscape—especially as fuel intensity metrics and lifecycle-based emissions standards take shape,” Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonisation Director at DNV noted.
LNG bunkering hubs spring up and expand across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The adoption of the cleaner-burning fuel is hence being matched by real-world infrastructure deployment – reinforcing LNG’s role as the industry’s bridge to low- and zero-carbon shipping.
Panal Canal expansion feared 'not enough' for rising US LNG exports
Though start-up of the $5.2 billion Panama Canal expansion is scheduled for January, it may be difficult to accommodate 30 mtpa of LNG from the US Gulf Coast and Trinidad and Tobago - equivalent to 1 LNG ship per day, each way - to reach Pacific via the shortest route, Wood Mackenzie warns.
