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More than 500 dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers are now operating worldwide and another 849 are on order, bringing total investments to over US$200 billion, according to the latest World Shipping Council data
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The shipping industry needs to be able to source more commercially competitive alternative fuels to power these vessels
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The WSC reiterated its call for the urgent need to have a global decarbonization framework to support future investment decisions
More than 500 dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers are now operating worldwide and another 849 are on order, bringing total investments to over US$200 billion, according to the latest World Shipping Council (WSC) data on it Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard.
As of September 2026, there were 503 dual-fuel ships on the water, up 41% from 358 in the same month last year. Another 849 ships are on order, bringing the total delivered or on order to 1,352 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 $200 billion to ships that can run on cleaner fuels, with more than 500 already sailing and hundreds more on the way,” WSC president and CEO Joe Kramek said in a statement.
“The investment is happening, but these ships need commercially competitive alternative fuels to deliver their full potential to reduce emissions,” he added.
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Global decarbonization rules needed ASAP
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% of container ship orders and 97% of vehicle carrier orders, compared with 23% 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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“Ships ordered today will be operating for decades. Shipping companies and fuel producers need certainty to make the investments that will shape the future fleet and its fuel supply,” Kramek said.
WSC reiterated its strong support to a global greenhouse gas measure through the IMO, in line with its 2023 GHG Strategy.
It said 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,” Kramek said. “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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