Over a third of ships ordered in 2022 capable of running on alternative fuels – Clarksons
LNG dominated the order book in 2022 with 397 dual-fuel LNG newbuilds, followed by 43 methanol-fuelled and 17 LPG-fuelled vessels. There were also 90 orders for ammonia-ready vessels, 31 for LNG-ready vessels and three for hydrogen-ready vessels.
PHOTO: US shipping company Matson ordered three 3,600 TEU LNG-ready container ships last year. Matson
The trend towards alternative marine fuels continues to gain momentum, with over 350 LNG-ready vessels already in the global fleet and 106 more on order, Clarksons Research has recorded. 150 ammonia-ready vessels are on order, 55 methanol-ready vessels are being built and six hydrogen-ready vessels are in the pipeline.
As of last year, shipowners had put in orders for a total of 825 vessels be powered by LNG, 64 by methanol, 88 by LPG, and 250 by other alternative fuels such as battery/hybrid propulsion (200), ethane (16), hydrogen (13) and biofuels (7). These will be delivered over the coming years.
“The green port infrastructure is continuing to expand,” says Clarksons, with 158 active LNG bunkering ports and 1,800 vessels already capable of connecting to shore power, or ready for it with some modifications.
Clarksons Research's data also shows that the average ship age in the global fleet is increasing, standing at 12.3 years on a gross tonnage-weighted basis.
Earlier this month, classification society DNV and the Responsible Shipping Initiative (RSI) launched a study to explore the cleanest ways of replacing ageing dry bulk ships in the Baltic Sea and North Sea.
By Konica Bhatt
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