The maritime industry is entering a period of increasing fuel diversity as shipowners respond to ever-stricter environmental requirements and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, gas carrier vessels are becoming an essential part of the transition, providing the infrastructure needed to supply alternative fuels safely and efficiently.
According to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, around 900 LNG-fuelled ships are now in operation worldwide, excluding LNG carriers. Of these, about 200 were delivered in 2025, with a further 190 added to the order book — underpinning LNG’s dominant share of alternative-fuelled tonnage across several key segments, particularly container shipping.
Approximately 650 additional ships are now on order and are expected to enter the global fleet before 2030, further increasing demand for LNG. As LNG demand continues to grow and new fuels such as ammonia emerge, the role of gas carriers is expanding rapidly. Operators, fuel suppliers and ports must ensure that infrastructure, vessel design, safety systems and operational capabilities keep pace with this development.
In a recent white paper, DNV explores the evolution of the LNG carrier market and its growth drivers, the design features that distinguish LNG carriers from conventional gas carriers, regulatory and compliance requirements, ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations and safety management, as well as the emerging outlook for ammonia carrier vessels.
Source: DNV white paper – “Gas carrier vessels. Facilitating the transition to alternative fuels”. Photo: LNG Carrier DSME – Towel401, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.