LNG Bunkering Vessels: List, Fleet Size and Largest Ships

LNG bunkering vessels are small gas tankers that deliver liquefied natural gas as fuel to other ships, usually inside a port or at anchor. This page lists the LNG bunkering vessels in service, with fleet size, capacities, design and operating areas. It is written for ship operators, port staff, fuel buyers and surveyors.

What Is an LNG Bunkering Vessel?

An LNG bunkering vessel is a small gas carrier built to transfer LNG fuel ship-to-ship. It loads at a terminal, sails to the receiving ship, moors alongside and pumps LNG into its fuel tanks.

Unlike an LNG carrier, which moves cargo between export and import terminals, a bunker vessel serves many ships in one port area. The transfer itself is explained in how LNG bunkering works.

Most bunker vessels carry 5,000–20,000 m³. Barges and the smallest units carry a few hundred to a few thousand cubic metres.

How Many LNG Bunkering Vessels Are There?

There were 67 LNG bunkering vessels in operation and 42 on order by mid-2026, according to DNV data quoted by SEA-LNG. The fleet stood at 62 at the end of 2025.

The fleet has grown with demand. SEA-LNG puts monthly LNG bunker sales at about 770,000 m³ in January–May 2026, around 13% higher than a year earlier.

The ships they serve are growing faster. SEA-LNG counts more than 1,550 LNG-fuelled ships in operation and on order. Another 73 LNG dual-fuel ships were ordered in the first half of 2026.

LNG Bunkering Vessels List

The table lists 47 LNG bunkering vessels with their delivery year and main region of operation. It is based on DNV data compiled in 2024; vessels change charters and regions, so check a ship’s current position on AIS.

Europe dominates the list, with 27 of the 47 vessels. Asia has 11 and the Americas 8.

Which Are the Largest LNG Bunkering Vessels?

The largest LNG bunkering vessels carry 18,000–20,000 m³, with a few small-scale LNG carriers of up to 30,000 m³ also used for bunkering. These large units serve ultra-large container ships with very big fuel tanks.

Gas Agility can deliver its full cargo in less than 12 hours, according to Bureau Veritas. It uses GTT membrane tanks, unusual for a bunker vessel.

The largest LNG-fuelled container ships carry fuel tanks of about 18,600 m³. Filling them in one call needs a bunker vessel of this size.

What Sizes Are LNG Bunkering Vessels?

Most LNG bunkering vessels carry 5,000–10,000 m³, which is the largest size group in DNV’s fleet data. About a third carry 10,000 m³ or more, and only around 6% are under 1,000 m³.

The 1,000–5,000 m³ share is the remainder of DNV’s figures. New orders are trending larger, as more big container ships switch to LNG.

What Types of LNG Bunkering Vessels Are There?

LNG bunkering vessels come in four main types: self-propelled bunker ships, inland or harbour barges, articulated tug-barges and small-scale LNG carriers that also bunker ships.

• Self-propelled bunker vessels: the most common type, such as Gas Agility or the Avenir ships. They can work alongside, at anchor or during cargo operations.
• Bunker barges: unpowered or lightly powered barges for river and harbour work, such as the Yidu inland bunker barge in China.
• Articulated tug-barges (ATB): a barge pushed by a tug locked into a notch, such as Q-LNG 4000 in the United States.
• Small-scale LNG carriers: coastal gas carriers that supply terminals and bunker ships, such as several Coral-class ships in Europe.

How Are LNG Bunkering Vessels Designed?

LNG bunkering vessels are IGC Code gas carriers with insulated tanks, boil-off gas handling, ship-to-ship transfer gear and usually dual-fuel engines. Their layout is built around frequent mooring alongside other ships.

• Cargo tanks: most use IMO Type C pressure tanks, which hold boil-off pressure for longer. Larger units may use membrane tanks. See types of gas carriers for tank types.
• Boil-off gas handling: vapour from the tanks and the receiving ship is burned in the engines, sent to a gas combustion unit or reliquefied. The boil-off gas guide explains why.
• Transfer gear: hose-handling cranes or transfer booms, manifolds on both sides, dry-disconnect couplings, emergency release couplings and a vapour return line.
• Safety systems: an emergency shutdown link with the receiving ship, gas detection and water curtains to protect the hull.
• Mooring and fendering: large fenders and good manoeuvrability, often with azimuth thrusters, for frequent berthing alongside.
• Propulsion: most burn their own cargo boil-off in dual-fuel engines.

Which Rules Apply to LNG Bunkering Vessels?

An LNG bunkering vessel carries LNG in bulk, so it must comply with the IGC Code and hold an International Certificate of Fitness. The Code is mandatory under SOLAS.

When the vessel also burns LNG as fuel, its fuel system follows IGC Code rules for using cargo as fuel. Bunkering procedures follow ISO 20519, and each port licenses the operator and approves bunkering locations.

Where Do LNG Bunkering Vessels Operate?

LNG bunkering vessels operate mainly in Northwest Europe, Singapore, China, South Korea, Japan and the United States. Rotterdam and Singapore are the two largest LNG bunkering hubs.

• Europe: Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and the Baltic and North Sea ports have the largest share of the fleet.
• Singapore: LNG bunker sales reached 318,300 tonnes in the first half of 2026, up about 30%. The port issued eight new LNG bunker supplier licences from 1 September 2026, adding to FueLNG, Pavilion Gas and TotalEnergies.
• China: Shanghai and other ports run bunker vessels and barges, often supplying container ships.
• North America: Jacksonville and Port Canaveral host bunker vessels serving container ships and cruise ships.

Which Ships Use LNG Bunkering Vessels?

Container ships, crude and product tankers, car carriers, bulk carriers, ferries and cruise ships are the main users of LNG bunkering vessels. Container ships make up the largest share of new LNG-fuelled orders.

DNV data from 2023 showed crude tankers, container ships and oil/chemical tankers as the largest LNG-fuelled groups in service. Container ships and car carriers led the order book.

The wider choice of fuels is covered in what fuel cargo ships use.

What Do Inspectors Check on an LNG Bunkering Vessel?

Class, flag, port State control and the port authority check an LNG bunkering vessel’s cargo system, transfer gear, safety systems, crew training and licence. Receiving-ship operators also review its procedures before the first transfer.

• Class and flag: tanks, cargo machinery, gas detection and ESD systems are surveyed for the IGC Certificate of Fitness.
• Port State control: inspects bunker vessels like any gas carrier. See port State control MoUs.
• Port authority: licenses the operator, approves bunkering locations and checks the bunkering checklist.
• Compatibility and vetting: the receiving ship’s operator checks mooring, manifold and ESD compatibility. Many charterers also require a vetting inspection.
• Company systems: transfer procedures, drills and maintenance sit in the safety management system under the ISM Code.

Related Topics

• Bunkering on Ships
• Top LNG Carrier Operators
• Bio-LNG as a Marine Fuel

• Author
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Dmitry

I worked as an officer in the deck department on various types of vessels, including oil and chemical tankers, LPG carriers, and even reefer and TSHD in the early years. Currently employed as Marine Surveyor carrying cargo, draft, bunker, and warranty survey.

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