LNG-fuelled boxships sustain alternative fuel share of global orderbook

Latest annual data from classification society DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insights (AFI) platform reveal that orders for alternative-fuelled vessels fell 47% year-on-year in 2025.

DNV, has shared the final year data from the AFI platform, which show that a total of 275 orders were placed for alternative-fuelled vessels in 2025. While this was 47% lower than 2024, this decline took place against the backdrop of a significant drop off in the overall newbuild market.

Specifically, a total of 275 orders for alternative-fuelled vessels were placed in 2025, representing a year-on-year decrease of 47%. This mirrored a broader drop in the overall newbuild market, which fell to 2,403 orders, from 4,405 in 2024.

Despite this downturn, containership contracting showed resilience, rising to 547 new orders from 447 in 2024 and accounting for roughly 49% of all gross tonnage and 68% of alternative-fuel new orders. Within the container segment, alternative fuels dominated, with the fuel mix by tonnage approximately 58% LNG, 36% conventional fuels, and 6% methanol.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO maritime at DNV said: “While indicative of a turbulent year where strategic choices were harder to make,