July Orderbook Shows Surge in Alternative-Fuel Vessel Orders - LNG Leads While Ammonia Gains Ground

The alternative-fuel ship orderbook continued to build momentum in July, with 28 newbuilds secured—up from 19 in June—highlighting owners’ growing commitment to fuel diversification. According to DNV, LNG-fuelled vessels dominated the July tally, accounting for 22 of the total orders. The bulk of these orders—19 to be precise—were container ships, joined by two tankers and a research vessel.

Methanol also made its mark with three new orders: two bulk carriers and one offshore support vessel. Notably, July saw a breakthrough in the ammonia sector: two ammonia-fuelled gas carriers were ordered, alongside the first-ever ammonia bunker vessel added to the global orderbook. As DNV’s Jason Stefanatos observed, this marks a shift—owners are clearly moving from experimentation toward scalable, long-term fuel strategies built on regulation-ready assets.

On a broader scale, the first half of 2025 saw a massive 78% surge year-on-year in alternative-fuel newbuild tonnage, reaching almost 19.8 million gross tonnes. This growth is led by container shipping, but covered bulk, tanker, and RoPax segments too. LNG remains the backbone, with 14.2 million GT of LNG vessels ordered so far in 2025—87 in absolute terms—with methanol trailing behind at 4.6 million GT across 40 vessels. While still modest, ammonia and hydrogen have begun to make appearances; ammonia orders totalled roughly 37,000 GT, and several hydrogen vessels are now in the pipeline.

July’s uptick comes as shipowners navigate tightening IMO regulations and prepare for upcoming fuel intensity and life-cycle assessment rules under the Net-Zero Framework. The steady stream of LNG builds—especially in the high-exposure container sector—reflects its status as a proven transitional fuel, benefiting from expanding infrastructure and favorable regulatory positioning. Lloyd’s Register’s latest Fuel for Thought report reinforces this trend, noting LNG as the “clear fuel of choice,” with the dual-fuel fleet growing 61% by the end of 2024. It estimates that 14% of all vessels on order now include LNG capabilities.

What makes July’s data particularly meaningful is its signal of strategic alignment: the launch of an ammonia bunker vessel suggests that bunkering infrastructure may finally be catching up with ambition. For shipping innovators, regulators, and decarbonization strategists, the message is unmistakable—fuel choices are becoming ever more deliberate, adaptive, and future-facing.

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