BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 13. ClassNK, the international classification company, is betting the farm that by 2026, the demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol as marine fuel will hit the nail on the head and reach its peak, Trend reports via ClassNK.
“By 2026, the demand for LNG as marine fuel may reach 24 million tons per year and for methanol 4.5 million tons per year. This growth is predicated on the mass construction and delivery of LNG and methanol-fueled ships, with many container ships being methanol-fueled by this time,” the information noted.
The classification company also announced that the current demand for ammonia and hydrogen (“green” fuel) is still limited in the global shipping industry, but is expected to see future growth in demand as ships powered by these fuels are delivered.
The new ClassNK survey also highlights the number of ships in the world currently running on alternative fuels (instead of fuel oil).
“There are 106 container ships, 60 crude oil tankers, 70 product/chemical tankers, six gas carriers, and 31 LNG-capable motor carriers. The methanol-capable fleet includes seven container carriers and 25 product/chemical tankers. There are also six LNG-fueled LPG tankers,” the information emphasizes.