Alternative-fuelled ships retained a 38% share of global newbuilding gross tonnage in 2025 despite a sharp slowdown in overall ordering, according to figures from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform.

Total contracting activity fell heavily after the previous year’s boom, with 2,403 vessels ordered in 2025 compared with 4,405 in 2024. Orders for ships capable of running on alternative fuels declined by 47% year-on-year to 275 units, but their share of the orderbook by tonnage remained unchanged as container ship demand stayed strong.

Containerships accounted for 547 new orders during the year, up from 447 in 2024, representing around 49% of total gross tonnage and more than two-thirds of all alternative-fuel orders. Within this segment, LNG dominated the fuel mix, accounting for about 58% of contracted tonnage, followed by conventional fuels at 36% and methanol at 6%.

Across all vessel types, LNG-fuelled ships led alternative-fuel contracting in 2025 with 188 orders, representing 31% of total gross tonnage. Methanol-fuelled vessel orders dropped to 61 from 149 the previous year, while ammonia and LPG saw only limited uptake.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime at DNV, said: "While indicative of a turbulent year where strategic choices were harder to make, the slowdown in 2025 also reflects a natural reduction after several years of extraordinary ordering activity. Still, in select segments the momentum toward use of alternative fuels remains. Looking ahead, progress will depend on effective and global regulations that incentivise alternative fuel uptake, create a level playing field, and foster fair competition and implementation."

Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonisation Director at DNV, stated: "The resilience of the alternative fuels orderbook in 2025 is mainly driven by cargo owners who have set their own emissions reduction goals despite market slowdown and regulatory uncertainty. We see them prioritising investments where there is a strong alignment between fuel infrastructure, regulatory certainty, and commercial viability, particularly in container shipping, where LNG and methanol are supported by established supply chains and customer demand."

He added: "In contrast, segments like bulk and tanker are more sensitive to market cycles and capital costs, leading to a preference for conventional fuels until further clarity emerges on fuel lifecycle emissions and regulatory incentives. Practically, this environment should encourage owners to focus on scalable solutions, invest in fuel flexibility, and adopt targeted energy efficiency measures that can be adapted as policy and market conditions evolve."

Investment in bunkering infrastructure continued during the year, with 22 LNG bunker vessels added to the orderbook alongside new units capable of supplying methanol and biofuels. Wind-assisted propulsion also expanded, with 24 ships delivered in 2025 carrying a total of 63 sails, up from 49 sails installed the year before.

The data excludes LNG carriers as a ship type, with RoPax vessels categorised under car/passenger ferries.