Resilient alternative fuels orderbook – DNV
New orders for alternative-fuelled vessels reached 19.8 million GT in the first half of 2025, up by 78% year-on-year, according to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI).
Although the number of vessels ordered fell slightly from 179 to 151, growth in gross tonnage reflects a shift towards larger container ships. LNG led with 87 orders (14.2 million GT), followed by methanol with 40 vessels (4.6 million GT). Ammonia and hydrogen saw modest activity.
DNV’s Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen noted a second wave of owners driving the energy transition, while the classification society’s decarbonisation director Jason Stefanatos highlighted the sector’s more strategic investment approach.
Thirteen LNG bunkering vessels were also ordered, pointing to alignment between fuel adoption and infrastructure.
With regulatory clarity expected soon, DNV anticipates further acceleration in energy efficiency and alternative fuel uptake. The AFI platform remains a key resource in tracking shipping’s shift to low-carbon solutions.