The news I promised from San Francisco on Tuesday was delayed, but now due for Monday. In the meantime, I will let my colleague Martin Christian Wold provide us with an overview of the fleet of LNG fuelled ships, in operation and on order.

Martin Christian Wold (LinkedIn):

“What started off as a government initiated ”test run” in year 2000 with the gas-fuelled ferry Glutra, has now developed into a sizable operating fleet of LNG fuelled ships. The global LNG short sea trading fleet is now counting 22 ships, of which 21 are currently operating in Norway.”

LNG fuelled ships in operation

“The ferry company Fjord1 operates nearly half of this fleet, and will this year contribute to yet another milestone in this rapidly developing segment. The 20 year old ferry Tresfjord is scheduled for LNG conversion late this year at an estimated cost of eight million Euro. Moreover the chemical/product tanker Bit Viking is also scheduled for conversion this year for about the same price, which I believe to be only the first of many conversions in this segment.”

“No doubt the development of LNG fuelled ships has accelerated the last two years and the confirmed orderbook is currently counting 17 ships. This year alone, four new shipowning companies will gain experience with LNG as a marine fuel. Two RoRo vessels and a small general cargo coaster are of particular interest, introducing LNG ship fuel to the short sea merchant fleet.”

LNG fuelled ships on order

“It took 10 years to get the first 22 LNG fuelled ships floating. The confirmed orderbook is very soon the same size as the existing fleet, so in less than three years time I’m certain we will see the next 22 LNG ships in Norway alone. So far the LNG ship fuel development outside Norway has been limited though. However the new ECA requirements have just brought LNG to the shipowners’ attention, and have made LNG a very real option to consider for every single newbuild for operation in these areas.”

NSK shipping pioneers the short sea general cargo trade market with an LNG fuelled coaster