The World Shipping Council (WSC) said the global fleet of dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers has surpassed 1,200 vessels, as orders and deliveries continue to rise.
According to the group’s latest Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard, the number of dual-fuel vessels already in operation reached 440 ships by March 2026, marking a 65% year-on-year increase.
The number of dual-fuel vessels on order climbed to 764 ships, taking the combined delivered and ordered fleet to 1,204 vessels representing more than $180 billion in private investment.
WSC said 78% of container ship orders and 94% of vehicle carrier orders are now dual-fuel vessels, compared with 17% across the rest of the global fleet orderbook.
Joe Kramek said the vessels are being built with fuel flexibility in mind to support long-term energy transition goals and supply chain resilience.
The organisation added that continued regulatory clarity from the IMO will be important to support further investment in alternative marine fuels.
