LNG supplied to vessels for propulsion at Spanish ports exceeded 8.1 TWh in 2025, more than four times the volume recorded two years earlier, according to data published by Gasnam.

The organisation said the energy volume delivered for marine propulsion last year was equivalent to filling the fuel tanks of around 16 million passenger cars, highlighting the scale of LNG uptake in maritime transport.

Renewable bio-LNG accounted for 12% of the LNG supplied in 2025, marking what Gasnam described as progress towards reducing emissions and achieving climate neutrality in maritime transport.

The growth reflects both the increasing number of LNG-fuelled vessels entering the global fleet and the expansion of bunkering infrastructure, which has positioned Spanish ports as established hubs for alternative marine fuels.

Shift towards ship-to-ship bunkering

LNG bunkering activity in Spain has increasingly moved towards ship-to-ship (STS) operations. Gasnam reported that STS deliveries rose from 44% to 80% of total LNG bunkering volumes over the past year, driven by improved operational flexibility and efficiency.

Portugal also began LNG bunkering operations in 2025. A total of 342 GWh was supplied across 13 operations, mainly via STS transfers at the port of Sines, reinforcing the Iberian Peninsula’s role in LNG bunkering.

Alternative fuels maintain strong share of new orders

According to data from DNV cited by Gasnam, vessels powered by alternative fuels accounted for 38% of gross tonnage in new ship orders placed in 2025, despite a broader slowdown in ordering activity.

LNG and bio-LNG remained the leading alternative fuels, with 188 new orders, representing 31% of total gross tonnage, particularly in the container ship segment. Methanol ranked second, while ammonia and hydrogen continued to develop at an earlier stage.

Deliveries of alternative-fuel vessels accelerated during the year. In 2025, 193 LNG-fuelled vessels and 59 methanol-fuelled vessels entered service, expanding the LNG fleet by 30% and doubling the size of the methanol fleet.

The global LNG fleet now comprises nearly 1,500 vessels, including ships in operation and those on order.

Bunkering infrastructure continues to expand

Infrastructure development has progressed alongside fleet growth, the DNV data shows. During 2025, 22 LNG bunkering vessels were added to the global order book. The current LNG supply fleet consists of 62 vessels in operation, with a further 38 on order.

Gasnam noted that almost one-third of global merchant ship tonnage ordered in 2025 featured dual-fuel LNG propulsion, underlining LNG’s continued role in the shipping sector’s transition towards lower-emissions fuels.