The number of dual-fuel (Dual-fuel) ships worldwide has increased to 503, representing a 41% growth compared to last year. According to recent statistics, total investments in dual-fuel ships that are actively operating or on order have surpassed $200 billion.
Investment and Order Details
As of September 2026, 503 dual-fuel ships are operating in international waters. Additionally, 849 more ships are currently on order, bringing the total number of delivered and on-order ships to 1,352. These ships are designed to operate on conventional marine fuels or various alternative fuels, including renewable and lower-emission fuels. This initiative helps enhance the maritime transport industry in reducing pollution.
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Challenges and the Need for Alternative Fuels
Joe Cramack, President and CEO of the Marine Transportation Council, stated: "The shipbuilding and automotive transport industry has invested over $200 billion in ships that operate with cleaner fuels. More than 500 ships are currently at sea, and hundreds more are on the way." However, he emphasized that to realize the full potential of these ships, alternative fuels with competitive commercial pricing are needed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, ships capable of using alternative fuels remain the dominant choice in container ship and car carrier orders. These ships account for 65% of container ship orders and 97% of car carrier orders, while this figure is only 23% in other sectors of the global fleet.
However, alongside the overall expansion of orders, orders for conventional fuel ships have also increased compared to last year. This comes amid ongoing uncertainty regarding global greenhouse gas regulations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), highlighting the importance of having clear global rules to support future investment decisions.
Joe Cramack also added: "Ships ordered today will be operating for decades. Shipping companies and fuel producers need stability to make investments that shape the future of the fleet and its fuel supply." The Marine Transportation Council strongly supports the development of a global greenhouse gas law through the IMO, in line with its GHG 2023 strategy.
Without a global framework, the shipping industry will face the risk of increased regional regulations and the complexities associated with them, leading to higher costs for global trade.
Joe Cramack concluded: "We need a global law with clear rules and strong, consistent enforcement that assures companies to invest in cleaner fuels and the necessary infrastructure to supply them. We hope that IMO member countries can agree on providing this framework. Any delay means increased uncertainty, making the transition to a more sustainable future more difficult and costly."
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