LNG-fuelled container ships sustain alternative fuel share of global orderbook amid significant industry slowdown
The annual data from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) highlights just how regulatory uncertainty that has led to a slowing of the industry transition to alternative fuels in 2025. Instead, there has been a market recalibration.
While overall newbuilding activity eased in 2025 following an unprecedented boom the previous year, the share of gross tonnage (GT) on alternative fuels held steady at 38 percent. This stability hinged on continued strength in the container segment, and is to a lesser degree also supported by orders in passenger vessels and cruise ships.
A total of 275 orders for alternative-fuelled vessels were placed in 2025. This is a year-on-year reduction of 47%. This mirrored a broader drop in the overall newbuild market, which fell to 2,403 orders, from 4,405 in 2024. Despite this downturn, containership orders showed resilience, rising to 547 new orders from 447 in 2024 and accounting for roughly 49 percent of all gross tonnage and 68 percent of alternative-fuel new orders.
Within the container segment, alternative fuels dominated, with the fuel mix by tonnage approximately 58 per cent LNG, 36 per cent conventional fuels, and 6 per cent methanol, declining from 149 to 61 vessels.
Investment in fuel infrastructure continued at pace with 22 LNG bunker vessels added to the orderbook alongside new bunkering vessels capable of supplying methanol and biofuel. These developments signal growing confidence in LNG supply chains and emerging multi-fuel capabilities, reducing operational risk and supporting the economics of alternative fuel adoption.
Wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) saw 24 ships delivered in 2025, with a total of 63 sails installed, slightly up from 2024, which saw 22 deliveries and a total of 49 sails installed. Wind is proving to be the surprise option, presenting owners with between 5-10% of fuel savings depending on route.
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