Alternative fuel vessel orders lose pace in March - DNV
DNV recorded five new alternative fuel vessel orders in March, down from 17 in February.
LNG accounted for two of the five orders, LPG secured two and methanol one, said Kristian Hammer, senior consultant at DNV.
The global LNG fleet now stands at 921 vessels in operation, with another 673 on order for delivery through to 2033.
LPG is gaining momentum as a bunker fuel, with new vessel orders recorded for the third consecutive month this year. A total of eight LPG-capable vessels have been ordered so far in 2026, trailing LNG's 32 orders but surpassing methanol’s two.
DNV data shows 150 LPG-capable vessels in operation and 90 on order for delivery through 2028.
The operational methanol fleet has grown to 123 vessels in March, up from 118 in February, indicating five deliveries over the past month. The global methanol-capable orderbook stands at 325 vessels scheduled for delivery through to 2030.
DNV’s database also shows that 60 alternative fuel-capable vessels were delivered in the first three months of 2026, including 27 LNG and 17 methanol-capable vessels, Hammer noted.
In contrast, ammonia activity remains muted for yet another month.
No new ammonia-capable vessels were ordered in March, marking the third consecutive month without orders. There are currently three vessels in operation, with a further 42 on order for delivery by 2029.
By Konica Bhatt
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