Alternative-fuel ship orders outpace port bunkering infrastructure, LR warns

· Shipping

Alternative-fuel vessel orders are outpacing the development of port infrastructure needed to fuel them, according to a new Lloyd's Register report, Fuel for Thought: Ports, which counts 1,942 alternative-fuel-capable ships in the global orderbook. Separately, classification society DNV reports that orders for alternative-fueled ships are running 57% ahead of last year, with LNG-powered containerships and car carriers driving much of the growth. The two datasets point to a widening gap between ship capability and fuel availability at ports, a problem for operators that must comply with tightening environmental rules even where bunkering supply is thin. LNG remains the dominant choice among the new orders.

Why it matters：A fleet able to run on alternative fuels but unable to refuel at most ports undermines decarbonization targets and shifts investment toward a handful of bunkering hubs.

Key points

  • Lloyd's Register counts 1,942 alternative-fuel-capable ships in the global orderbook.
  • DNV says alternative-fuel orders are 57% above last year's level.
  • LNG-powered containerships and car carriers account for much of the order growth.

Sources (original reporting)

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