Over 600 LNG-fuelled ships currently in operation

According to the maritime classification and consultancy company DNV, 2024 saw a record increase in orders of alternative-fuelled ships, mostly powered by LNG and methanol.

According to IIR-member Det Norske Veritas (DNV), the number of LNG-powered ships in operation grew from 469 in December 2023 to 641 in December 2024 [1]. The number of LNG-fuelled ships in operation doubled between 2021 and 2024, with a record number of deliveries (169) in 2024.

 

Based on existing orders, DNV forecasts that the LNG-powered ships in operation should double by the end of the decade [2].

 

 

In 2024, a total of 515 ships were ordered, representing a 38% year-on-year increase compared to 2023. The growth was driven by the container and car carrier sectors, which experienced a boom in newbuilds over the past three years. In 2024, 69% of all container ship orders were for ships capable of being powered by alternative fuels, in response to consumer demands for more sustainable practices and companies preparing to replace older tonnage.

 

Methanol is the second most popular alternative maritime fuel choice, with 166 ships ordered in 2024, representing 32% of the orderbook. A total of 27 orders were placed for ammonia-fuelled vessels, compared to just eight in 2023.

 

 

Sources

[1] https://www.dnv.com/news/lng-powers-unprecedented-year-for-orders-of-alternative-fuelled-vesselss/

[2] SEA-LNG. https://sea-lng.org/2025/01/focus-on-practicality-drives-lng-pathway-growth-in-2024/