SIMIC

SIXTY-TWO eco-fueled vessels were ordered in July, including a record number of methanol-fueled ships, according to the latest figures from Norwegian DNV classification societies latest count in Wolds's Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform.

That figure included a record 48 new methanol-fueled ships added to the AFI platform, including 15 retrofits, reported Ventura, California's gCaptain. June saw 29 methanol ships added to the AFI platform, including retrofits.



The LNG-fueled newbuild orderbook continued to climb with 14 newbuilds ordered in July. DNV noted that July orders brought the total number LNG-fueled crude oil tankers on order past the 100 mark, of which 65 are already in operation.



"Beating last month's record by a solid margin, orders for methanol-powered vessels have now jumped past the 200 mark," said DNV's maritime advisory consultant Martin Wolds.



"The significant number of new confirmed orders and retrofits for methanol coincides with the delivery of the world's first methanol fueled container vessel and the signing of the first bunker supply agreement for green methanol for ships."



July's numbers bring the total number of alternative-fueled vessels ordered this year to 190, with LNG and methanol leading the charge. The majority of alternative-fueled vessels are containerships, constituting about half of the LNG-fueled orders and 80 per cent of the new methanol-fueled orders, DNV said in its June report.