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A total of 49 new orders for alternative-fuelled vessels were placed in April 2025.
DNV said this represents a 5 percent increase compared to last year, despite the backdrop of a decline in overall newbuild orders.
Methanol and LNG saw similar numbers of new vessel orders in April, with 24 and 20 respectively.
Methanol orders were concentrated in the container (14) and RoPax (9) segments, with one additional order in the tanker segment.
Orders for LNG-fuelled vessels were distributed across the container (16), cruise (2), and RoPax (2) segments, DNV said.
The concentration of orders in the container segment reflects ongoing activity from cargo operators, while the presence of orders across RoPax, cruise, and other segments points to a more diverse uptake of alternative fuels compared to previous months.
Additionally, there were two new orders for hydrogen-fuelled vessels in the cruise segment, marking the first orders since June 2024, DNV said.
“Methanol and LNG going head-to-head this month reflects how fuel choices are evolving. Methanol has rebounded quickly after a quieter start to the year, while LNG remains strong with uptake diversifying beyond the container segment,” Jason Stefanatos, global decarbonization director at DNV Maritime said.
“Seeing LNG and methanol fuelled vessels ordered at similar levels shows how owners are weighing flexibility, fuel availability, and segment-specific needs when ordering,” he said.
“Continued strength in the alternative-fuelled vessel market stands out, even amid a broader slowdown in newbuild activity,” Stefanatos added.
713 LNG-powered ships in operation
DNV’s platform shows that there are now 713 LNG-powered ships in operation and 641 LNG-fueled vessels on order.
Moreover, 174 LNG-powered containerships and 82 LNG-powered car carriers are in operation, followed by 78 crude oil tankers, and 72 oil/chemical tankers.
As per vessels on order, LNG-powered containerships account for a big part of the orders with 346 units. Shipping firms also ordered 128 car carriers, 46 crude oil tankers, 45 oil and chemical tankers, and 25 cruise ships.
These statistics do not include smaller inland vessels or dual-fuel LNG carriers.
DNV previously said that a record of 264 LNG-powered ships were ordered in 2024, while the number of LNG bunker vessels in operation grew from 52 to 64 over the last year.
In addition to 1354 confirmed LNG-powered ships, the fleet powered by alternative fuels includes 428 methanol-fueled vessels, 275 LPG-powered ships, 42 hydrogen-fueled vessels, and 40 ammonia-fueled vessels.