364 alternative-capable ships were ordered in the first 10 months of 2026, up 57% from the same period last year, according to AFI platform numbers from classification society DNV.
53 new orders were recorded in October, with LNG continuing to lead activity, Kristian Hammer, product manager for AFI and senior consultant at DNV, said in a LinkedIn post on Monday.
This compares to 30 alternative-capable ships ordered in October 2025 and 69 ships ordered in September 2026.
LNG-fuelled vessels accounted for 30 of October's orders, including 18 container ships and 12 car carriers. A further 19 orders were placed for LPG carriers.
A total of 230 LNG-fuelled vessels have been ordered so far this year, representing about 64% of all alternative-fuelled vessel orders.
Container ships accounted for 134 of those orders, while car carriers accounted for 75.
Together, the two segments made up 90% of LNG-fuelled vessel orders in 2026.
Four ammonia-fuelled car carriers were also added to the AFI database in October.
“It is encouraging to see this momentum continuing into the final months of the year,” Hammer said.
“The October figures add to what has already been a very active 2026 for alternative-fuelled vessel ordering across a number of key shipping segments, particularly since the summer.”
