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DNV said on Tuesday that a total of 38 new orders for alternative-fuelled vessels were placed last month.
Out of the 20 LNG dual-fuel orders, eight were for vessels in the car carrier segment, six for container vessels, four for crude oil tankers, and two for cruise vessels.
A further 14 orders were placed for LPG/ethane carriers, while the remaining four orders were for ammonia-fueled vessels in the bulk carrier segment, DNV said.
According to DNV, a total of 83 orders for alternative-fueled vessels have been ordered in the first four months of 2026, including 52 orders for LNG dual-fuel vessels.
“After a slow start to the year, it is encouraging to see an uptick in orders for alternative-fueled vessels in April. While the broader trend towards LNG remains evident in the data, it is also interesting to see a wider spread among the segments this month, with notable uptake in the tanker and cruise segments,” Jason Stefanatos, global decarbonization director at DNV Maritime, said.
“The ordering of four ammonia-fuelled vessels in the bulker segment also stands out. While ammonia is still at an early stage as a marine fuel, projects like this – and the operational experience gained from them – are essential for moving the industry from concept to capability and taking practical steps towards wider adoption,” he said.
890 LNG-powered ships in operation
DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform shows that there are now 890 LNG-powered ships in operation and 657 LNG-fueled vessels on order.
Moreover, 240 LNG-powered containerships and 138 LNG-powered car carriers are in operation, followed by 91 oil/chemical tankers, and 84 crude carriers.
As per vessels on order, LNG-powered containerships account for a big part of the orders with 408 units. Shipping firms also ordered 97 car carriers, 48 crude oil tankers, and 36 cruise ships.
These statistics do not include smaller inland vessels or dual-fuel LNG carriers.
In addition to 1547 confirmed LNG-powered ships, the fleet powered by alternative fuels includes 446 methanol-fueled vessels, 394 LPG-powered ships, 49 ammonia-fueled vessels, and 38 hydrogen-fueled vessels.