Dual-fuel container ship and vehicle carrier fleet passes 1,200 vessels as orders and deliveries rise

The World Shipping Council (WSC) has published its latest update to its WSC Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard, which tracks the global liner shipping industry’s investment in vessels capable of running on renewable and lower-emission fuels, and how the liner fleet is preparing for the energy transition.

As of March 2026, the number of dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers on the water has reached 440 – which is a 65% year-over-year increase.

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 are dual-fuel, 94% of vehicle carrier orders are dual-fuel, and 17% of orders across the rest of the fleet are dual-fuel.

In total, 1,204 dual-fuel container ships and vehicle carriers have been delivered or are on order, representing over $180 billion USD in private investment.

“These vessels are long-term investments built with flexibility in mind,” said Joe Kramek, WSC President & CEO. “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. Continued constructive engagement at the IMO remains essential to provide the global regulatory certainty needed to scale investment in alternative fuels.”

The updated Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard is available at:https://www.worldshipping.org/dual-fuel-fleet-dashboard