Delphine Estibeiro –
In the September 7th edition of The Marex Bulletin, I published an article titled “LNG Bunkering: Strategic Pathway to Decarbonisation”, based on the presentation of Mr Manoj H Chaudhari, CEO of Unnic LNG Solutions, who offered a timely and insightful perspective on how liquefied natural gas could reshape shipping’s future. His emphasis on LNG as a transitional fuel, infrastructure readiness, and safety standards resonated strongly with industry stakeholders.
The newly released DNV White Paper Report on Gas Bunker Vessels speaks on similar lines, reinforcing LNG’s role as a bridge fuel while highlighting the critical importance of bunkering infrastructure in enabling the maritime energy transition.
According to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight platform, nearly 900 LNG-fuelled vessels are already in operation worldwide, with hundreds more on order. This rapid expansion has driven LNG consumption up by more than 500% between 2020 and 2024, with another 167% growth forecast by 2030. To meet this demand, the LNG bunker vessel fleet must grow to between 165 and 208 units by 2030—a scale-up that underscores their strategic importance.
The report notes that Europe remains the most established LNG bunkering region, with structured operations in Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Gothenburg. Asia, however, is the fastest-growing market, led by Singapore’s thriving LNG hub and China’s rapid build-out of ship-to-ship bunkering capacity. The Americas, while smaller in scale, are steadily developing along the U.S. East Coast and Gulf, driven by cruise and container operators.
Gas bunker vessels, as DNV stresses, are not simply smaller versions of gas carriers. Their role as fuel suppliers requires specialized cargo handling systems, vapour return and boil-off gas management, flexible transfer arrangements, and redundant propulsion systems to ensure safety and reliability. Conversion of small-scale LNG carriers into bunker vessels offers opportunities, but also challenges in design adaptation, class compliance, and operational readiness.
Safety is a recurring theme in both Mr Chaudhari’s presentation and the DNV report. Cryogenic fuels demand rigorous safeguards, resilient systems, and highly trained personnel. As ammonia and hydrogen emerge as future fuels, the IMO has issued interim guidelines to address their unique risks. Competence across the value chain—from vessel crews to port authorities—will be critical to maintaining confidence in alternative fuels.
Looking ahead, DNV forecasts LNG’s role will extend well into the coming decades, supported by mature ship technology, established supply chains, and compatibility with bio-methane and synthetic methane. Importantly, today’s LNG bunkering infrastructure is laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s fuels. Investments in storage, berths, digital coordination, and emissions-reduction measures will be essential to closing the supply-demand gap.
The DNV White Paper Report concludes that gas bunker vessels are “strategic enablers of the maritime energy transition.” Much like Chaudhari’s vision, the report underscores that while LNG may not be the final destination, it is the vessel carrying the industry toward a cleaner maritime future.
Marex Media