Cosco Shipping Names New LPG Dual-Fuel Gas Carrier

New Dual-Fuel Gas Carrier Enters Cosco Fleet

Cosco Shipping has named a newly built gas carrier fitted with an LPG dual-fuel engine, according to a report by Ship & Bunker. The vessel’s engine can run on either LPG or conventional marine fuels, giving the operator flexibility depending on fuel availability and cost.

Cosco stated that the ship is capable of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by around 20% compared with conventional propulsion, though the company did not specify the baseline used for that comparison.

LPG Still a Niche Marine Fuel

Despite growing interest in alternative fuels across the shipping sector, LPG remains a limited option, with its use concentrated almost entirely within the gas carrier segment. Data cited from classification society DNV puts the current global LPG-fuelled fleet at 179 vessels, of which 165 are LPG carriers themselves — reflecting how closely the fuel’s uptake is tied to ships that already carry it as cargo.

DNV figures further indicate that around 160 additional LPG-fuelled vessels are expected to enter service by 2030, suggesting continued but modest growth for the fuel type over the next several years.

Why It Matters for Fleet Decision-Makers

For ship owners and managers evaluating fuel-flexible newbuild options, the naming of this vessel underscores a broader trend: dual-fuel LPG propulsion is being adopted primarily by owners and operators already active in the gas carrier trade, rather than spreading into other vessel segments. The DNV projections suggest that while LPG dual-fuel newbuilds will keep entering service through the end of the decade, the fuel is likely to remain a specialised choice rather than a mainstream decarbonization pathway for the wider merchant fleet.

As the industry continues to weigh LNG, methanol, ammonia and LPG against one another, data points like these help technical superintendents and fleet planners benchmark where LPG dual-fuel technology currently stands relative to other alternative fuel options under consideration for newbuild and retrofit programs.

Apeks view — The 20% emissions claim is only as useful as its baseline, and none is given here — a reminder that fuel-flexibility decisions should rest on verifiable figures, not headline percentages. With LPG dual-fuel adoption still concentrated in the gas carrier segment, owners weighing newbuild propulsion options need comparable, sourced data across LNG, methanol, ammonia and LPG before committing capital. Directional fleet statistics from class societies are a reasonable starting point, but final calls belong with technical managers assessing each vessel’s actual trade profile.