Dual-fuel container and vehicle carrier fleet surpasses 1,200 mark, says WSC

Dual-fuel propulsion is fast becoming the standard for container ships and car carriers, with over 1,200 units already delivered or on order, according to recent figures from the World Shipping Council (WSC).

Data from the WSC’s Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard, which tracks private investment in alternative fuel-capable shipping, reveals that 440 dual-fuel box ships and vehicle carriers are on the water. This represents a 65% year-on-year jump from March 2025, when the 266 vessels in the global fleet.

The number of dual-fuel vessels on order has also continued to grow, reaching 764 ships. Across the order book, 78% of container ship orders, 94% of vehicle carrier orders, and 17% of orders across the rest of the fleet are dual-fuel.

In total, 1,204 dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers are now either delivered or on order, representing over US$180Bn in private investment, WSC stated.

The growing dual-fuel fleet underscores the scale of investment currently underway in the liner shipping sector. These vessels are designed for fuel flexibility, with the capability to switch to lower carbon-intensity fuels as they become commercially viable and available at scale.

“These vessels are long-term investments built with flexibility in mind,” said WSC president and chief executive Joe Kramek.

“Ships built today will operate for decades, and the ability to operate on different fuel pathways helps reduce risk, strengthen energy security, and support more resilient global supply chains,” he said.

Mr Kramek added that sustained, constructive engagement at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) remains vital to establishing the global regulatory certainty needed to scale up alternative fuel production.

According to WSC, future fuel demand is led by methane and methanol dual-fuel container ship orders. As Riviera previously reported, LNG (natural gas, predominantly methane) and methanol dominated nearly 90% of alternative fuel-capable ship orders in 2025.