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LNG order book still growing despite regulatory uncertainty

Dual-fuel vessels capable of running on liquefied natural gas( LNG) continue to dominate the container shipping order book despite ongoing uncertainty around global emissions-cutting regulations. While the overall newbuilding market across all shipping segments fell to 2,403 orders, down from 4,405 in 2024, new orders in container shipping rose from 447 in 2024 to 547 in 2025, accounting for 49 % of all gross tonnage and 68 % of alternative-fuel new orders, according to classification society DNV.“ The resilience of the alternative fuels order book in 2025 is mainly driven by cargo owners who have set their own emissions reduction goals despite [ the ] market slowdown and regulatory uncertainty,” Jason Stefanatos, global decarbonization director at DNV, said in a market update.“ We see [ ocean carriers ] prioritizing investments where there is a strong alignment between fuel infrastructure, regulatory certainty and commercial viability, particularly in container shipping, where LNG and methanol are supported by established supply chains and customer demand.” The chance for shipping to become the first global industry to implement emissions-reducing regulations was lost in October when US-led opposition derailed the International Maritime Organization( IMO) net-zero framework at a pivotal Marine Environmental Protection Committee( MEPC) meeting in London. The net-zero framework was postponed for at least a year and possibly longer if the US continues to lobby against it.

with the Egyptian government.“ With an investment exceeding $ 1.8 billion in the country, we recognize Egypt as a pivotal market at the intersection of key global trade routes,” Clemence Cheng, managing director for Europe at Hutchison Ports, said in a statement. The new terminal is coming online as major carriers begin to switch scheduled services from routes around the Cape of Good Hope to the Suez Canal and Red Sea. A Gemini Cooperation service on the India – Mediterranean

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