How to Find Crew for Your LNG Fueled Vessels

LNG fueled vessels are now a mainstream alternative fuel choice rather than a niche experiment, but they demand a very specific blend of technical competence, regulatory awareness and safety culture from crew. Shipowners that succeed in LNG crewing are treating it as a long term capability build that combines targeted recruitment, structured IGF Code training, simulator-based assessment and digital crew planning.​ 

LNG Fueled Vessels at a Glance 

• Active LNG fueled vessels (including LNG carriers and dual fuel ships) now account for well over 2 percent of the global deep sea fleet and about 6 per cent of fleet deadweight when the orderbook is included.​ 

• More than 600 LNG fueled ships were already in service by early 2025, and LNG represents around 70 per cent of all alternative fuel orders.​ 

• Crews on LNG fueled vessels must comply with the IGF Code and STCW A V/3 basic and advanced training requirements, which cover low flashpoint fuel operations, emergency response and methane release prevention.​ 

• Shipowners that combine specialist recruitment partners, structured LNG training pipelines and data driven crew rotation planning are filling LNG positions faster and reducing unplanned off hire due to competence gaps.​

• Martide’s global talent pool and crew management platform allow operators to recruit LNG experienced engineers, track IGF certifications, plan changeovers and build long term LNG talent pipelines across multiple vessel types. 

Here’s how to find the right seafarers for your LNG fueled vessels 

The commercial case for LNG has evolved since we first wrote this post in 2019; LNG is now a bridge fuel that helps many operators meet tightening greenhouse gas and air pollutant limits while they experiment with e-methanol, bio LNG and other options. At the same time, new IMO greenhouse gas targets mean owners cannot rely on LNG alone, so crew must understand not only LNG operations but also efficiency, emissions data and future fuel readiness.​ 

To find crew who can operate safely in this environment, shipping companies need to look for three things: prior LNG or gas carrier experience, formal IGF Code training and a strong safety and compliance mindset. That combination is still scarce in the labor market, which is why using specialist maritime recruitment partners like Martide and structured training pathways is now critical.​ 

The advantages of LNG fueled vessels 

LNG has become the dominant alternative fuel choice for large deep-sea ships, with more than 600 LNG powered vessels in operation by early 2025 and the number expected to roughly double by the end of the decade. Orders for LNG fueled ships represent around 70 per cent of all alternative fuel orders globally, and when existing vessels and the orderbook are combined, LNG powered tonnage accounts for about 6 percent of world fleet deadweight.​ 

From an emissions perspective, LNG virtually eliminates sulfur oxide emissions and significantly reduces nitrogen oxides and particulate matter compared with conventional fuel oil, which helps owners meet IMO air quality rules and port state requirements. Depending on engine technology and methane slip management, LNG can also cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with heavy fuel oil, although operators now need crews who understand how methane slip and engine settings affect their true emissions profile.​ 

Issues with LNG fuel that need to be addressed 

The global LNG carrier fleet passed 700 active vessels in early 2024, and decades of operational experience have shown that LNG can be handled safely when the right systems and procedures are in place. However, general cargo, container and tanker vessels that are switching to LNG propulsion are introducing unfamiliar systems such as cryogenic storage, low flashpoint fuel lines and gas safe/unsafe zones, which create new design and operational risks.​ 

The IMO’s International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) sets detailed requirements for fuel storage, bunkering arrangements, ventilation, fire protection and gas detection, and non-compliance can quickly lead to detentions or higher insurance premiums. For shipowners, this means that crew recruitment is not just about finding an extra engineer; it is about building a competence framework for LNG bunkering, emergency shutdown, leak management and incident investigation.​ 

The LNG skills gap you must plan for 

Most seafarers trained before 2017 received little or no exposure to LNG systems during their initial education, so there is still a structural gap between the number of LNG capable ships and the number of fully LNG competent crew. At the same time, the expansion of the LNG carrier fleet and the rapid growth in dual fuel newbuilds mean that experienced LNG engineers and deck officers are in high demand and can choose between multiple employers.​ 

That scarcity drives up wage expectations and makes retention particularly important; operators that treat LNG competence as a one off requirement for a single vessel often lose staff to competitors that offer clearer LNG career paths. To stay competitive, companies need to think in terms of LNG career ladders, mentorship from experienced gas carrier personnel and clearly defined steps from basic to advanced IGF roles.​ 

Martide: changing the future of maritime recruitment 

Martide works at the intersection of maritime recruitment and crew management software, which is where LNG crewing challenges are now most acute. The platform already helps operators outsource recruitment, track applicants, manage crew salaries and control changeover dates across mixed fleets, and those same features apply directly to LNG fueled vessels. 

For LNG ships specifically, Martide’s global talent pool includes engineers and deck officers with prior experience on LNG carriers and dual fuel vessels, as well as seafarers who have completed basic or advanced IGF Code courses. That combination allows owners to fill specialist LNG positions more quickly and to maintain a pipeline of LNG ready officers for upcoming newbuilds and retrofits.​ 

Read more: Write Eye Catching Seafarer Job Ads and Grow Your Candidate Database. 

Building a structured LNG training pipeline 

Regulatory training is no longer optional; amendments to the STCW Convention that entered into force in 2017 introduced mandatory basic and advanced training for seafarers working on ships subject to the IGF Code. Basic training covers safe operation of low flashpoint fuel systems, hazard prevention, emergency response, pollution prevention and occupational safety, while advanced training focuses on leadership roles, planning and supervision of LNG operations.​ 

Many training providers now deliver these IGF courses using full mission simulators and scenario-based exercises, which let crew practice bunkering, leak response and fire fighting ashore before they encounter LNG systems at sea. From a crewing perspective, this means that owners can recruit promising candidates with conventional tanker or container experience and then use structured IGF training plus simulator time to build LNG competence rather than relying only on prior LNG sea time.​ 

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Candidate Database. 

Practical steps to find and retain LNG crew 

Hiring for LNG requires a different process design compared with traditional oil fueled vessels. Successful operators are increasingly using a combination of specialist recruitment platforms, proactive talent pooling and data driven crew planning to cover LNG positions consistently.​ 

Some practical steps include: 

• Define LNG specific job profiles 

• Specify required IGF Code certificates, simulator hours and previous LNG or gas carrier experience for each rank.​ 

• Include responsibilities such as emissions monitoring, methane slip awareness and digital fuel management in job descriptions.​ 

• Use specialist maritime recruitment tools 

• Work with platforms like Martide that already manage LNG experienced candidates, dual fuel engineers and IGF trained officers. 

• Reuse proven recruitment tactics such as optimized job ads and automated candidate screening to grow your LNG talent pool. 

• Integrate training with crew planning 

• Align IGF basic and advanced courses with contract rotations so that returning crew step up into LNG roles after training.​ 

• Use your crew management system to track expiries for IGF endorsements, basic training and related safety courses alongside other certificates. 

• Focus on retention and progression 

• Offer clear LNG career paths, including cross training between LNG carriers and dual fuel deep sea vessels where possible.​ 

• Use regular feedback and performance data from your crew management platform to identify future LNG leaders early. 

If you are a shipowner or manager in need of crew with LNG expertise, talk to Martide about creating a targeted LNG recruitment and training strategy that fits your fleet profile. 

FAQs about crewing LNG fueled vessels 

Why is LNG experience so important for crew? 

LNG systems operate at cryogenic temperatures and involve low flashpoint fuel in complex containment and piping systems, so crew must understand specific hazards and procedures that are not covered in conventional fuel training.​ 

What certifications do seafarers need to work on LNG fueled ships? 

Seafarers on ships subject to the IGF Code must complete basic or advanced training that meets STCW Code Section A V/3 and Table A V/3 1 requirements, in addition to their standard STCW certificates.​ 

Is it realistic to train existing crew rather than hiring only experienced LNG personnel? 

Yes, many operators combine recruitment of a core group of LNG experienced officers with structured IGF training and simulator-based courses for existing crew, which gradually builds a larger LNG competent workforce.​ 

How is the LNG fueled fleet expected to grow? 

Industry data shows more than 600 LNG-powered ships in service by 2024 2025 and suggests that the number could roughly double by 2028, with LNG accounting for around 70 per cent of all alternative fuel orders.​ 

Can LNG alone meet future IMO greenhouse gas targets? 

LNG can reduce air pollutants and may lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with fuel oil, but new IMO greenhouse gas strategies mean owners will also need efficiency improvements, methane slip control and potentially new fuels over time. 

This blog post was originally published on September 18th 2019 and updated on January 25th 2026\