LNG edged ahead of methanol in August with orders for 21 new LNG-fuelled ships, according to data from a DNV Alternative Fuel Insights database special report
The orders marked August 2023 as the second-strongest month for LNG-fuelled vessels in more than a year.
Eight 9,200-TEU LNG-fuelled container ships were ordered in September when French container shipping giant CMA CGM placed an order at China’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp.
In addition to container ships, LNG carriers have been one of the strongest segments for LNG fuel, as several recent reports into shipping’s orderbooks have shown.
Notably, in late September, QatarEnergy inked a deal with HHI for 17 LNG carriers. And preparations for Qatar’s North Field Expansion offshore gas extraction project have been a primary driver for LNG carrier orders over recent months and years.
In an update on social media, DNV principal consultant Martin Christian Wold noted a brief lull for the methanol segment in August, with no ships ordered.
"After a record month for methanol orders in July, August saw a "net-zero" count for methanol (pun intended) There were in fact a couple of firm orders but we also removed some ships which turned out to be methanol-ready only," he said.
Methanol subsequently bounced back in September notching 12 new orders for methanol-powered ships, according to Mr Wold.
This week, Japanese yard Tsuneishi Shipbuilding revealed a new order for four 5,900-TEU methanol-fuelled container ships, but did not reveal the buyer. The current order is Tsuneishi’s third order for methanol-fuelled ships following Mitsui’s orders for two methanol-powered Kamsarmax bulkers placed recently.
Hapag-Lloyd recently welcomed 23,600-TEU, LNG-powered Berlin Express into its fleet – the first ship of its new Hamburg Express class.
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