Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), a global leader in testing, inspection and certification (TIC), today announced the classification of three new LNG bunker vessels, including one 18,600 m3 vessel for Ibaizabal at Hudong Zhonghua and two 18,000 m3 vessels for Hercules Shipping, shipping arm of Peninsula at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, which will be delivered from 2026. The vessels further BV’s collaboration with world-leading shipbuilders, charterers and yards on major LNG projects, supporting the maritime industry as it transitions to the use of more sustainable fuels.
The new vessels join a list of 18 BV-classed LNG bunkering vessels in service, with four more scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026. They add to the important supply of LNG as fuel and help ensure shipbuilders and operators remain compliant and on course to meet global emissions targets. BV has now classified around 35% of the world’s bunkering ships in service and approximately 50% of the order book to date.
While LNG remains an essential part of the current maritime energy landscape, methanol and ammonia are increasingly viewed as a fuel that could accelerate decarbonization efforts. BV is already leveraging its deep expertise in LNG to facilitate the industry's shift to other clean fuels, exploring how lessons from LNG can be applied to methanol and ammonia’s production, transport, and eventual use as a maritime fuel.
Bureau Veritas has supported developments that will pave the way for the broader uptake of ammonia as a fuel on land and at sea. It recently granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) to Dalian Shipbuilding for its liquid ammonia bunkering vessel design and partnered with Hanwha Ocean and Naftomar on a joint development project to develop large ammonia carriers with an ammonia fuel-prepared design. On methanol projects, BV is also actively involved as selected class of several bunkering tankers in Europe and Singapore and numerous methanol fuel projects, mainly in chemical tankers and container ships.
"Classifying these new LNG bunkering vessels not only reinforces our commitment to supporting the maritime industry's transition to cleaner fuels but also highlights our leadership in providing innovative solutions that will support decarbonization efforts. These vessels will play a crucial role in enabling shipbuilders and operators to meet the growing demand for LNG as a fuel source, whilst ensuring compliance with stringent emissions targets.
As we look to the future, our efforts are increasingly focused on methanol and ammonia in the push toward sustainable shipping. For example, we are actively leveraging our extensive expertise in LNG to explore how the lessons learned can be applied to ammonia’s production, transport, and use. Our collaborations with industry leaders, including recent approvals for ammonia bunkering designs, reflect our commitment to paving the way for this transformative fuel.
With the International Maritime Organization’s recent steps toward revising rules on ammonia, we are well positioned to deliver the necessary approvals for ammonia combustion engines, ensuring that the maritime industry can confidently navigate its path toward a more sustainable future."
Carlos Guerrero
Global Market Leader – Gas Carriers
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
