• 13 Dec 2021

The choice of LNG for the maritime sector does not seem to be affected by the strong growth in world prices of liquid methane and raw materials, which began during the summer. Last October there were 31 orders for new LNG ships, 4 less than in the record month of September, for a total of 635 ships already delivered or ordered and another 201 ready to enter service. Orders of the month include those from Zodiac Maritime, Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport, J.P. Morgan, H-Line, Cido Shipping, SAIC Anji, Northern Lights JV, NS United Naiko Kaiun, Silversea Cruises, and Pasha Hawaii.

This was reported by DNV GL, leader in naval classification and maritime consultancy, which publishes the monthly trend of LNG orders. Furthermore, according to a study by Clarkson Research, a world leader in shipping services, the ships ready to use liquefied natural gas are about one third of those ordered (29.7% of the total). The infrastructural developments affecting the sector are also significant, with 95 new projects for LNG port terminals that would add up to the current 141 already existing.

The study recalls how maritime transport is still responsible for 3% of GHG emissions on a global scale. To this it should be added that, through further treatments, LNG ships could further reduce emissions through the use of bioGNL and synthetic gas.

Among the new constructions there is the Silver Nova (pictured), the first LNG ship of the Monecasca company Silversea Cruises. In addition to the LNG engines, the ship will have a 4 megawatt fuel cell system and will be the first major installation of its kind, said the managers of the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg. The ship will be the first local emission-free hybrid and luxury cruise ship in port.

Sources: LNG Prime, Naucher, Bureau Veritas, Offshore Energy