The switch to greener propulsion is shifting rapidly from conventional fuels to options that meet the needs of achieving the identified net-zero solutions. These are deemed necessary to reach strict global climate rules. There are a variety of new maritime careers that will develop off the back of this heightened demand.<\/p>\n However, the pace of demand for these vessels is slowing compared to that which we observed in 2025, the DNV reports, from information received on its DNV Alternative Fuels Insights platform.<\/p>\n Orders for a single-bet solution ship, (one which chooses one specific feature to solve a major problem instead of using a flexible mix), is no longer a given in the industry, and the pace of alternative-fuelled purchasing is varying when compared to 2025.<\/p>\n In receipt of this information, it has been assessed that operators are combining their fleets, with fuel use not being the one-off reason for completing an order. Now, their portfolio decision includes integrating such issues as fuel optionality, timing of investment and future regulation, before confirming a purchase.<\/p>\n Pertinently, it is possible that obsolescence is one issue that is facing companies when they make planned purchases, where vessels are no longer efficient in their required role compared to even newer models.<\/p>\n Regulation changes may leave ships stranded too, with uncertainty and diversity becoming major players in the modern marketplace. The USA succeeded in October 2025 in scuttling the International Maritime Organization\u2019s push for Net-Zero Framework, increasing this unpredictability in the April 2026 meeting, where an unclear path was established.<\/p>\n When considering the figures, so far in 2026, there have been a total number of 119 alternative-fuelled vessels orders. There are favourites in this process with 50% being Liquified Natural Gas, coming second is Liquified Petroleum Gas at 42%, while methanol\/ethanol vessels are lagging at just 4, the same as ammonia with hydrogen propelled vessels coming in at just 1.<\/p>\n Container vessels are accounting for 42 of the 60 new LNG orders, with a figure of 12 for car carriers. Container ships were customarily leading the order book for alternative-fuelled vessels. However, while still buoyant, the market is shifting towards smaller container ships. They offer more choices when coming to terms with changing routes, avoiding trouble spots and docking at smaller ports. Concurrently we are seeing a greater demand for tanker and bulk carrier ships.<\/p>\n In May 2026 there were 36 orders for alternative-fuelled ships, of which 26 were for LPG\/ethane carriers, 8 for LNG vessels, while notably there were none for methanol or hydrogen powered ships.<\/p>\n Looking at the ocean-going cruise ship market, the Maritime Executive has calculated that half the order book is made up of Liquified Natural Gas propelled ships, and currently a third of the entire cruise ship fleet is made up of LNG powered vessels.<\/p>\n While the take-up has slowed in the adoption of ships being powered by alternative fuels, DNV observe that companies are making decisions against a backdrop of continuing regulatory shifts and altering market conditions.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/pexels-jan-van-der-wolf-11680885-29750512.jpg\")
Photo by Jan van der Wolf: https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/sailor-adjusting-ropes-on-ship-deck-29750512\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n