In 2025, orders for ships using alternative fuels dropped significantly after a strong growth year. The maritime industry placed 232 orders for these vessels in the first eleven months, which is a 53% decrease compared to the same time in 2024, according to DNV's Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform.

Even with this decline, LNG-fueled vessels are still the most popular choice, making up 67% of all new alternative fuel vessel orders this year.

In November, ten new orders were made for alternative-fueled vessels, all powered by LNG. The container segment was the most active, with six orders, while the tanker segment had four. Over the entire year, container vessels accounted for 66% of alternative fuel orders.

Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonization Director at DNV Maritime, commented, “After a busy October, the ordering of alternative-fueled vessels has slowed down again, which reflects broader market trends seen in the latter half of the year. However, it’s clear that LNG-fueled vessels, especially in the container segment, continue to lead the way.”

The 2025 numbers show a big decline from 2024's record year when 515 alternative-fueled vessels were ordered, marking a 38% increase from the previous year. This boom was largely driven by a surge in orders for containerships and car carriers, with 69% of container ship orders in 2024 focusing on alternative fuel capabilities.

While LNG remains the preferred option, the share of methanol-fueled vessels dropped to 20% in 2025 from 32% in 2024, when 166 methanol orders were made. DNV officials suggest this change may be due to issues with the infrastructure needed for green methanol production.

“Market conditions, developments in infrastructure, updates on fuel production, and the needs of cargo owners are all influencing the demand for various fuels in both the short and long term,” Stefanatos explained. “This year's changing trends in LNG and methanol orders might be a result of the slow progress in producing green methanol.”

Despite the slowdown in orders, the number of LNG-powered vessels in operation continues to grow. By the end of 2024, there were 641 LNG-fueled ships operating worldwide, following a record delivery of 169 vessels that year. The number of LNG-powered ships has doubled from 2021 to 2024.

The push for decarbonization is mainly driven by cargo owners responding to consumer demand for sustainability and shipping companies replacing older ships. Stefanatos pointed out that “regulatory uncertainty still exists,” but emphasized that “the momentum for maritime decarbonization is being led by cargo owners and shipowners.”

Looking forward, DNV anticipates that the LNG-powered fleet will double again by the end of the decade based on current order data. At the same time, new fuels such as ammonia are starting to make progress, with 27 orders for ammonia-fueled vessels placed in 2024, including the first ammonia vessels that are not gas carriers.