Höegh Autoliners exercised options for four more Aurora-class PCTCs in April that will initially be able to operate on LNG until zero-carbon fuels are available (source: Höegh Autoliners)
Momentum for LNG-fuelled newbuild tonnage continued in April, with shipbuilding contracts signed for a record 51 deepsea vessels, according to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI)
“Our latest AFI figures can reveal that April saw the strongest month of growth ever for LNG fuel newbuild contracting,” reported DNV principal consultant Martin Christian Wold in a social media post. “The large orders anticipated within container vessel and PCTC segments materialised. Despite everything, 2022 is off to a strong start with orders well ahead of the record year 2021.”
Last year, a record number of orders were placed at shipyards for 240 LNG-fuelled newbuilds. This does not include LNG carriers, which are fitted with either low-pressure or high-pressure dual-fuel propulsion that burns LNG.
The April ordering surge will push the global LNG-fuelled fleet on order or in operation close to 800 vessels; the global fleet now stands at 286 vessels in operation and 489 newbuilds. There are another 221 vessels that were built as LNG-ready, meaning they have incorporated space and technology for possible future conversion to LNG. The latest orders, noted Mr Wold, have come from the likes of MSC, COSCO Shipping Lines, Höegh Autoliners, Global Auto Carriers, Cido Shipping, Ray Car Carriers and Matson Navigation.
BRL Weekly Newbuilding Contracts reported in week 18, 2022 Höegh Auto Liners exercised options for four more vessels, each with a capacity of 9,100 car equivalent units (CEUs) in China, bringing to eight the number now contracted. “Four more are on option and likely to be exercised at a later date. The vessels will be built by CMHI (Jiangsu) at Jinling,” said BRL. Interestingly, these Aurora-class PCTCs, fitted with MAN Energy Solutions’ main engines, are designed to be ready for future zero-carbon fuels, and will have DNV ‘Ammonia and Methanol Ready’ notations.
Meanwhile, Global Car Carriers ordered four 7,000-CEU car carriers from the same yard with an option for four more. Each will be dual-fuel with options, if firmed, delivered in 2027 and 2028. Global Car Carriers is a new consortium formed by investors in Gram Car Carriers, Norway. Deliveries will be between Q4 2025 and Q4 2026.
More LNG bunker vessels required
To keep up with the growth in the LNG-fuelled fleet, more investment is needed in LNG bunkering infrastructure. Mr Wold cautioned, “Orders for LNG bunker vessels are lagging behind,” creating a supply challenge – something he planned to address during his presentation at the 9th annual Global LNG Bunkering Summit in Amsterdam this week. There are 37 LNG bunker vessels in operation and another 19 on order, with a reported 17 under discussion.
