According to classification society DNV, trends indicate that 2021 has been a ‘banner year’ for new LNG-fueled vessel construction contracts and the trend is set to continue.
This is due to the maritime industry racing to adopt LNG on a large scale in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Within the next few years it is anticipated that over 90% of the new Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTC) that will enter tha market will be LNG dual fuel.
This development is unsurprising given the ability of bio-LNG usage being fundamental in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s goal to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 40% compared to 2008.
“The deep-sea shipping industry understands that while LNG may not be the end game, it is the best starting point to get to net zero,” said Peter Keller, Chairman, SEA-LNG, when discussing the pathway forward. He continued, “We know the need is real and waiting is no longer an option.”
With bio-LNG and synthetic LNG being an essential part of meeting the IMO 2050 targets, Keller recognised the advantages of ‘drop-in’ fuels, saying that because there are no compatibility issues, any ratio combination of bio-LNG, synthetic and ‘conventional’ LNG can be used to a fuel a large proportion of the deep-sea merchant fleet.
The LNG-adopting fleet will also include containerships, which have seen orders for LNG-fuelled liners increasing five-fold since January 2020, in addition to seven-fold order increases of tankers and two-fold order increases of bulkers over the 18-month period.