Recap 2025: Global methanol fleet nears 100

LNG maintained its dominance in the alternative-fuelled vessel segment, followed by methanol. Ammonia-capable vessel orders saw steady growth.

The alternative fuel-capable vessel market continued its upward trajectory in 2025, classification society DNV’s database shows.

LNG

The LNG-capable fleet expanded dramatically over the past year. The number of vessels in operation jumped by a whopping 180, taking the total global fleet to 833 so far in 2025.

Another 624 LNG-capable vessels are on order, with deliveries scheduled through 2033.

Container ships dominate the segment by a wide margin, accounting for the largest share of LNG-capable vessels both in operation (224) and on order (374), followed by car carriers and crude oil tankers.

In the year so far, there are 62 LNG bunker vessels in operation, with another 38 on order for delivery by 2028.

Methanol

The operational methanol-capable fleet has also grown sharply this year, with 51 new vessels joining over the past 12 months, lifting the total in operation to 97 vessels so far in 2025.

Momentum is equally evident in the orderbook, with another 353 methanol-capable vessels on order for delivery through 2030.

As with LNG, container ships lead the charge. They make up the bulk of both methanol-capable vessels already in operation and those on order, while bulk carriers and chemical tankers form the next largest share of the orderbook.

There are 16 methanol-specific bunker vessels in operation so far in 2025, with another 9 on order for delivery by 2028.

Ammonia

Over the past year, one additional ammonia-capable vessel entered service, bringing the total fleet to three vessels.

In contrast, the ammonia-capable vessel orderbook expanded steadily, growing from 27 vessels at the end of 2024 to 45 towards the end of 2025.

Gas carriers account for the largest share of the pipeline (23), followed by bulk carriers (11).

The car carrier segment (4) overtook oil tankers over the past year, with car carrier orders now exceeding those for oil tankers (2).

DNV’s database also recorded its “first-ever” ammonia bunker vessel order in 2025.

Japanese conglomerate Itochu has ordered a 5,000-cbm ammonia bunkering vessel for delivery in 2027. DNV has not specified whether this is the same order recorded in its database.

By Konica Bhatt

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