Hong Kong conducted its first LNG bunkering operation on January 27 at the South Cheung Chau anchorage.
The 8,500-cbm bunker vessel Xin Ao Pu Tuo Hao supplied LNG to Zim Amber, an 8,200 TEU LNG dual-fuel containership owned by Seaspan and chartered to Zim. Despite prior government announcements, the event remained low-profile, with insiders suggesting it was a trial run ahead of a more publicized second transfer in early February.
Drewry expects LNG shipping to normalise further in 2025 as fleet growth continues to outpace liquefaction build-up, preventing any recovery in rates.
Meanwhile, according to DNV, while methanol drove newbuilding orders for alternative-fueled vessels at the beginning of the year, LNG was the industry’s alternative fuel of choice by year-end. The number of LNG vessel orders placed in 2024 was 264, over double that of 2023 (130).