LNG continued to dominate alternative-fuelled vessel orders in February: DNV

The latest figures from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insights (AFI) platform reveal that 33 of the 34 orders for alternative-fuelled vessels placed in February were for LNG-fuelled vessels. The new LNG-fuelled orders were all for container ships, while the remaining one was for an ammonia-fuelled general cargo vessel, the classification society reported in its monthly update.

The AFI platform also shows that eight orders were placed for LNG bunkering vessels in February, representing a 50% expansion of the LNG bunker vessel orderbook. ‘Based on vessels already in the orderbook, the number of LNG vessels in operation is set to almost double by the end of the decade, and the need for supporting LNG bunkering infrastructure is intensifying,’ Stefanatos said. ‘It is, therefore, especially encouraging to see a surge in the ordering of LNG bunkering vessels in February.’

Stefanatos also pointed out that the alternative-fuelled orderbook picked up speed again in February, which he described as ‘encouraging’ following a ‘relatively quiet’ month for vessel orders in January. February’s total was the highest since October 2024.

No new orders for methanol-fuelled vessels were placed in the first two months of 2025, while 166 such vessels were added to the orderbook in 2024. The AFI platform also reports no new orders for LPG or hydrogen vessels so far this year.