A new report from Lloyd’s Register (LR) says LNG continues to play a central role in shipping decarbonisation, supported by strong orderbook growth and advances in methane slip reduction.
The global dual-fuel LNG fleet had reached 1,665 ships as of March 2026, with a further 982 ships on order, LR said in Fuel for thought: LNG report emailed on Wednesday.
The report said the container segment is leading growth in LNG adoption, while cruise, tanker and PCC/RoRo operators are also expanding their LNG-capable fleets.
According to LR, its economic modelling shows LNG remains the most cost-effective alternative fuel pathway to 2050 under current and proposed regulatory frameworks.
The report added that blending LNG with bio-LNG and e-LNG could further improve compliance performance under FuelEU Maritime and IMO regulations.
LR also highlighted advances in methane slip reduction technologies, noting that high-pressure two-stroke engines are now achieving methane slip levels as low as 0.2 g/kWh, while low-pressure engines fitted with exhaust gas recirculation systems have reduced methane slip by more than 60%.
The report called for emissions regulations to be updated to better reflect improvements in engine technology and methane emissions performance.
“LNG represents an immediately deployable, scalable, and well-established fuel in transition that aligns with both operational imperatives and emerging regulatory requirements,” Constantinos Chaelis, Global Gas Segment Director at LR, said.