LONDON, UK – Avenir LNG, a pivotal player in the global small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector and one of the largest LNG bunkering providers worldwide, has officially commenced construction on its next 20,000 cubic meter (cbm) LNG bunkering vessel. The steel cutting ceremony for Hull S1123 took place on July 21 at the Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) shipyard in China, marking a significant milestone in Avenir LNG’s strategic fleet expansion and its profound commitment to decarbonizing the shipping industry.
Hull S1123 is the first of two state-of-the-art vessels ordered by Avenir LNG in 2024, designed to meet the escalating global demand for cleaner marine fuels. This vessel is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2026 and will immediately enter into a long-term time charter with Vitol International Shipping, a testament to the market’s confidence in Avenir LNG’s capabilities and its essential role in the energy transition. The second vessel in the series is slated to follow early in 2027, further solidifying Avenir LNG’s position as a leader in flexible and reliable LNG supply.
LNG: Leading the Charge Toward Cleaner Seas
This development by Avenir LNG aligns perfectly with broader industry trends signaling a decisive shift towards LNG as the leading alternative marine fuel. According to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, LNG remains the top choice, with 87 vessels totaling 14.2 million Gross Tonnage (GT) ordered so far in 2025. Notably, 81 of these are LNG-fueled container ships, representing 13.6 million GT, underscoring LNG’s clear dominance in this critical shipping segment.
Crucial to the success of alternative fuels is the corresponding development in bunkering infrastructure. The first half of 2025 alone saw 13 LNG bunkering vessels ordered, adding to the 62 already in operation globally. February 2025 was particularly active, recording eight new LNG bunker vessel orders, indicating strong confidence in LNG supply chain maturity and an urgent push to match supply-side logistics with the rising demand from LNG-fueled ships. As of mid-2025, there are 1,369 LNG dual-fuel vessels either in operation or on order, highlighting the current bottleneck in bunkering capacity, a challenge Avenir LNG’s new vessels are directly designed to address.
Avenir LNG: A Fully Integrated Supply Chain in Action
Founded in 2018, Avenir LNG has built a fully integrated LNG supply chain model, setting it apart in a competitive and complex energy landscape. Its capabilities span:
- Small-scale LNG supply: Rapid growth sector, targeting off-grid and emerging markets.
- Bunkering: Utilizing a modern fleet for global coverage and reliable clean fuel delivery.
- Storage Solutions: Utilizing horizontal, low-pressure cryogenic tanks for optimal LNG availability.
- Last-Mile Distribution: Including road tankers and cryogenic railcars to service industrial customers with lower-emission fuels.
With over 1.5 million cbm of LNG delivered and more than 500 successful bunkering operations completed, Avenir LNG has proven its operational excellence and global reach.
Its flagship vessel, the Avenir Achievement, is currently the largest and most versatile LNG bunkering supply vessel in the world, reinforcing the company’s leadership in LNG distribution and maritime fuel transition.
Cutting-Edge LNG Bunkering Vessels for a Cleaner Tomorrow
At its core, Avenir LNG’s purpose is to make lower-emissions energy simple and accessible for customers, both on land and at sea. The company distinguishes itself through an end-to-end, fully integrated LNG supply chain model, managing the inherent complexities of sourcing and delivering cleaner energy. This comprehensive approach allows Avenir’s experienced industry experts to handle all the intricate planning, providing tailor-made, economical, and lower-carbon energy solutions globally.
The construction of the new 20,000 cbm vessels underscores the undeniable shift towards LNG as a vital marine fuel for reducing emissions. Compared to conventional marine fuels, LNG significantly cuts down on harmful pollutants:
- Sulfur Oxide (SOx): Virtually eliminated
- Nitrogen Oxide (NOx): Reduced by up to 85%
- Particulate Matter (PM): Near zero
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2): At least 20–30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
These advanced vessels are equipped with cutting-edge features designed to optimize performance and minimize environmental impact. They will incorporate:
- New Type-C tank designs with lower boil-off rates
- WinGD dual-fuel main engines with iCER technology
- Hull form optimization and subcoolers to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce cargo losses
Engineered for flexibility, these ships are built to handle both conventional LNG and future fuels like bio-LNG, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of vessels and terminals — a crucial step toward a cleaner and more resilient maritime energy ecosystem.
Strategic Partnerships Fueling the Transition
This newbuild program is a testament to strong collaborative partnerships:
- Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE): This leading EPC company, specializing in liquefied gas carriers, continues its successful relationship with Avenir LNG, having built four of Avenir’s previous vessels.
- Vitol International Shipping: The long-term charter with Vitol, a global energy and commodities giant, not only secures stable revenue for Avenir but also strengthens Vitol’s capacity to offer LNG and future bio-LNG bunkering services to its expansive customer base.
- DNV: The esteemed classification society DNV provides critical independent assurance and technical expertise, ensuring the vessels adhere to the highest international standards of safety, quality, and environmental performance.
- Stolt Tankers: The site supervision team from Stolt Tankers, a subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen, is providing essential oversight during construction. This active involvement highlights Stolt-Nielsen’s increasing strategic focus on Avenir LNG, following its recent consolidation of ownership. The move underscores a long-term commitment to advancing small-scale LNG supply solutions.
Avenir LNG’s Agile and Global Reach
Established in 2018 to meet the demand for small-scale LNG distribution, particularly in off-grid markets, Avenir LNG has rapidly built one of the largest LNG bunkering networks and fleets of small-scale LNG vessels globally. With over 500 bunkering operations successfully completed and 1.5 million cubic meters of LNG delivered across its active fleet, Avenir has consistently demonstrated its capability to serve a diverse range of customers.
This latest investment in two additional 20,000 cbm vessels represents a 40% expansion of its fleet by number and an 80% increase in total capacity, reinforcing Avenir LNG’s position as a critical enabler of the marine energy transition. The company’s core values – being honest & open, agile & opportunistic, and reliable & diligent – guide its operations, ensuring the secure and clean supply of LNG for the rapidly growing LNG-fueled fleet worldwide and accelerating the global shift towards a more sustainable maritime future.
Source Avenir LNG