Clarksons: 45% of newbuilds ordered in 2023 alternative fuel capable

Reflecting future ’optionality’, 579 in fleet and newbuilds have LNG-ready status, 322 are ammonia-ready and 272 are methanol-ready. 

83% of container ship newbuild capacity ordered in 2023 (rising to 94% including orders with ready status) and 79% of car carriers (98% including ready orders) were ordered with alternative fuel capability, with much lower shares of bulkers and tankers. 

Overall, Clarksons estimates about 6.0% of global fleet capacity is alternative fuel-capable, up from 2.3% in 2017 and the ship broker projects this will increase to about 23.0% of all fleet capacity by the end of the decade.

‘Green’ port infrastructure is continuing to expand: currently there are 188 active LNG bunkering ports and 82 planned facilities, while more than 2,743 vessels in the fleet are fitted or set to be fitted with shore power connections. 

Wind propulsion has seen a boost, with 47 vessels now operating using some form of wind assistance and a further 47 currently on order. Air lubrication systems (ALS) have grown too, about 166 vessels in service now have an ALS installed and 268 newbuildings on order will come fitted with ALS.  

However, Clarksons cautions that by 2026, around 45% of tankers, bulkers and container ships will still score D or E under IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) energy efficiency ratings.

Under CII, ships that achieve a D rating for three consecutive years or an E rating in a single year are required to develop a corrective action plan under Part III of the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP).

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