LNG

GreenLine Mobility Solutions has partnered with Dabur India to deploy LNG-fuelled trucks across the FMCG company’s logistics network. More than 1,000 LNG- and electric-powered heavy trucks are operated across India by GreenLine with the collaboration helping to cut long-haul road freight emissions in sectors including consumer goods, steel and mining.

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.

Kansai Electric, better known as KEPCO, is planning to renew Himeji No.1 Power Station in western Japan with high-efficiency combined cycle units to increase output and lower emission.  Himeji No.1 is an LNG-fuelled plant that has been in operation for over 30 years, and the repowering is meant to raise output from 1,442 MW to 1,950 MW and thermal efficiency from 54% to about 63%. Start of commercial operation is planned for fiscal 2033.

The number of LNG vehicles on Chinese roads has almost tripled since 2019 as LNG fuel costs have fallen below those of diesel, offsetting the higher price of LNG-powered trucks. Shell China's VP Mobility, Hu Chuan pointed out “LNG has become a strategic energy pillar for China, thanks to its cost advantages and lower carbon footprint."

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.

LNG as a marine fuel is gaining traction, notably in the very large crude carrier (VLCC) segment where 21 vessels are in service and 14 on order, Lloyds Register finds. Four of these VLCCs were built by Hanwha Ocean, as part of the ‘Neptune project’, on behalf of Advantage Tankers.

July 28 (LNGJ) -Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) has accepted a contract to build a 50 000 DWT bulk carrier with ILSHIN Logistics in cooperation with steelmaker POSCO. The ship, scheduled for delivery in Q4-17, will be the world’s largest LNG-fuelled bulk carrier. It will be used to ship limestone cargoes in the Korean coastal trade.