More than 500 dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers are now operating worldwide, with total investment in dual-fuel ships delivered and on order surpassing USD 200 billion. This follows from the latest World Shipping Council (WSC) Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard.
As of September 2026, 503 dual-fuel ships were on the water, up 41 per cent from 358 at the same time last year. A further 849 ships are on order, bringing the total delivered or on order to 1352 ships. These ships are designed to operate on either conventional marine fuels or alternative fuel types, including renewable and lower-emission fuels, helping prepare the fleet for the transition to cleaner shipping.
‘The container ship and vehicle carrier industry have committed more than USD 200 billion to ships that can run on cleaner fuels, with more than 500 already sailing and hundreds more on the way,’ says Joe Kramek, President & CEO of the WSC. ‘The investment is happening, but these ships need commercially competitive alternative fuels to deliver their full potential to reduce emissions.’
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Continued uncertainty over regulations
The latest figures show that alternative-fuel-capable ships remain the dominant choice for container ship and vehicle carrier orders. By deadweight tonnage, they account for 65 per cent of container ship orders and 97 per cent of vehicle carrier orders, compared with 23 per cent across the rest of the global shipping fleet.
However, as the overall orderbook has expanded, orders for conventional-fuelled ships have also increased compared with a year ago. This comes amid continued uncertainty over global greenhouse gas regulation at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), highlighting the importance of clear global rules to support future investment decisions.
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Global measures have to close cost gap
WSC strongly supports a global greenhouse gas measure through the IMO, in line with its 2023 GHG Strategy. A global measure is essential to closing the cost gap between conventional and renewable and near-zero emission fuels, while providing clear, consistent rules for international shipping. Without a global framework, shipping also risks facing a growing patchwork of regional emissions regulations, adding complexity and cost to global trade.
‘We need a global measure with clear rules and strong, consistent enforcement that gives companies the confidence to invest in the production of cleaner fuels and the infrastructure needed to supply them,’ concludes Kramek. ‘We trust IMO member states can come together to deliver that framework. Every delay means increased uncertainty, making the transition harder and costlier for the global economy.’
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