Orderbook low-carbon readiness outpaced in-service fleet uptake

Alternative fuel capability remained concentrated in the orderbook at the start of 2026, while uptake across the in-service fleet continued to be weighted towards incremental efficiency and emissions-control equipment, according to Clarksons’ data as of 1 January 2026.

Clarksons reported 2,756 alternative fuel-fitted ships in the fleet, equivalent to around 2% by vessel count and 9% by gross tonnage (gt), against an alternative fuel orderbook totalling 2,036 ships, equal to 26% by vessel count and 47% by gt.

Within that fleet snapshot, LNG-fitted ships represented the largest alternative fuel subset by count, at 1,560 vessels.

Methanol- and LPG-fitted ships were each shown as smaller cohorts, while battery-fitted ships totalled 800 vessels.

Clarksons cautioned, in Green Technology Uptake January 2026, that “individual alternative fuel subtotals will not necessarily add up to the alternative-fuel total as vessels can have multiple alternative-fuel capabilities and will appear in each applicable category.”

The same publication pointed to a widening base of portside enabling infrastructure, listing 222 ports with LNG bunkering active and 62 under development, and 285 shore power connections active with a further 79 under development.

Methanol bunkering was shown as a smaller, but developing segment, with 25 ports active and 23 under development.

On shipboard emissions and efficiency equipment, scrubbers remained the most prevalent single category in the fleet by gt share, with Clarksons recording 6,912 scrubber-fitted vessels, equal to 31% of fleet gross tonnage.

In parallel, Clarksons’ data showed 5,563 vessels with NOx selective catalytic reduction or exhaust gas reduction systems installed, and 369 fitted with air-lubrication systems. Carbon-capture systems were still recorded as a small installed base, at 58 vessels in the fleet.

Clarksons framed the Green Technology Uptake January 2026 dataset as conservative, stating it was “based on reported equipment in the merchant fleet, which may underestimate total uptake”, and adding that the figures “exclude vessels pending retrofits.”