Recently, Bureau Veritas (BV) announced that it will inspect and certify three LNG bunkering vessels, including an 18,600 cbm bunkering vessel built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for Ibaizabal, and two 18,000 cbm bunkering vessels built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard for Hercules Shipping, a subsidiary of Peninsula Shipping, which will be delivered in 2026.
The three new orders will join BV’s existing fleet of 18 LNG bunkering vessels, with four scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026. These new vessels increase demand for LNG as a fuel, helping to ensure that shipyards and operators remain compliant and meet global emissions targets. Currently, about 35% of the world’s in-service bunkering vessels and about 50% of the orderbook are BV-classed.
While LNG remains an integral part of the shipping energy mix, methanol and ammonia are also increasingly seen as a fuel that can accelerate the decarbonization process.
BV said it recently issued an Approval-in-Principle (AiP) for the design of a liquid ammonia refueling vessel for Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation(DSIC), and has been working with Hanwha Ocean and Naftomar on a joint development project to develop large ammonia carriers with ammonia fuel reservations.
In terms of methanol projects, BV is also involved in several bunkering vessel projects in Europe and Singapore, as well as numerous methanol-fueled projects, mainly for chemical tankers and container ships.