In March 2025, DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight platform reported a total of 25 new orders for alternative-fueled vessels. Methanol was the most popular choice, with 12 new orders across various segments such as cruise vessels, car carriers, offshore vessels, bulk carriers, and crude oil/chemical tankers. Additionally, seven orders were placed for LNG-fueled vessels in the container segment, while two orders were for ammonia-fueled vessels in the oil/chemical tanker category.
The first quarter of 2025 saw a total of 71 orders for alternative-fueled vessels, representing a 13% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. This decline is attributed to lower newbuild activity in the maritime industry during the early months of 2025. Despite this, Jason Stefanatos, DNV Maritime’s Global Decarbonization Director, expressed optimism about the recent order activity. He highlighted the strong performance of methanol as a fuel choice, noting its adoption across various vessel segments and the emerging interest in ammonia as a marine fuel.
Stefanatos emphasized the progress being made in laying the foundations for alternative fuels in the maritime industry, particularly with the ordering of ammonia-fueled vessels. While new order activity for alternative-fueled vessels is slightly behind compared to the previous year, he attributed this to the overall weaker newbuild market in 2025. The industry remains optimistic about the future of alternative fuels and their role in decarbonizing the maritime sector.
Related posts:
Maersk Launches World’s First Methanol-Powered Container Ship for CO2-Neutral Shipping
Cleaner Ships: Surge in Orders for Alternative Fuel Vessels Expected from 2024
World’s first ammonia dual-fuel Aframax tankers ordered by AET
Surge in Containership Orders Driven by Demand and Environmental Compliance
