While the overall newbuild market is experiencing a slower growth rate, the alternative fuels orderbook saw a total of 151 vessels ordered in the first half of 2025, with LNG dominating as the “clear fuel of choice” and accounting for more than half of the orderbook, according to data from classification society DNV.
Numbers on DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform show that new orders for alternative-fueled vessels reached 19.8 million gross tonnes (GT) in the first six months of 2025, exceeding the 2024 figure by 78% and indicating that shipowners prioritize future-ready assets in response to regulatory pressure, fuel availability, and long-term decarbonization goals.