Shipowners are ordering ships with alternative-fuel capability in ever increasing numbers, Clarksons Research has revealed.

The UK research arm of the shipbroking group said adoption has been on an upwards trajectory for years, despite uncertainty over future regulations and technology.

Clarksons Research analyst Marek Bak said: "LNG is the most popular option today, although other low and zero-carbon fuels are gaining traction, with notable new orders this year, alongside ongoing research and development."

At the start of November, 805 new vessels of 54.1m gt were set to use alternative fuels once delivered, which is equivalent to 34% of all tonnage on order.

This represents an increase of 68% year on year.

Faster and faster

The acceleration of eco-ordering is illustrated by the fact that the share of the orderbook that is alternative-fuel capable took more than four years to double from its 2015 level.

But it has now doubled again in a little over two years.

Clarksons Research tallies 548 units of 47.3m gt on order with LNG engines.

This is 30% of the total orderbook, up from 24% a year ago and 10% five years ago.

Just over a third of these ships are dual-fuel LNG carriers able to use cargo boil-off as fuel, with 168 such units on order, Bak said.

"The remaining share shows how LNG is gaining traction as an alternative fuel in the main volume sectors," he added.

Following high-profile orders in recent years, 22% of the boxship orderbook — 90 units of 1.2m teu — is comprised of vessels set to be LNG-capable.

There are also 21 LNG-capable VLCCs on order, 15 of which were contracted this year.

The rest of this list features 43 capesizes, 42 aframaxes and 29 cruise ships.

Other fuels are available

This is the design for Langh Ship's new LNG/LBG-capable vessels. The multipurpose units will be built at Wuhu Shipyard in China. Photo: Langh Ship

"Moreover, there has been interest in LNG-ready ships, with 83 such vessels on order, and 244 already in the global fleet," the analyst said.

Aside from LNG, there are 286 other ships of 7.5m gt on order, including hybrid battery-propulsion vessels.

Several of these can use LNG and other fuelling options.

LPG fuel uptake has risen rapidly, with 95 such units under contract, Bak said. All of these are LPG carriers.

Methanol fuel has also gained traction in 2021, following orders for nine dual-fuel boxships by AP Moller-Maersk in the summer.

This boosted the total to 22 methanol-capable units.

Bak pointed out that a large number of ammonia-fuelled vessel designs have now received class approval.

Hydrogen starting to be noticed

Just three hydrogen-capable units are currently on order, but interest is growing in hydrogen-ready ships. Four of these have been ordered so far.

This week, Finnish owner Langh Ship ordered three LNG-fuelled multipurpose cargoships at Wuhu Shipyard in China.

But the company said the vessels can replace this fuel with liquefied biogas.

The ship's LNG tank is also methanol and ammonia-ready, and the design will also be prepared for installation of onshore power, while space has been reserved for batteries.

"Looking forward, measuring the growth in the uptake of alternative fuels will be key to tracking shipping's fuelling transition," Bak concluded.