A new Lloyd’s Register report has highlighted a growing gap between alternative-fuel vessel orders and the availability of supporting bunkering infrastructure worldwide. As of January 2026, approximately 1,942 alternative-fuel-capable vessels were on order, representing 47% of the global orderbook by tonnage. While LNG bunkering was available at 222 ports globally, only 25 ports offered methanol bunkering, and commercial ammonia bunkering had been recorded at just one port, despite 385 methanol-capable and 45 ammonia-capable vessels on order. The report emphasized that limited fuel availability along international trading routes could constrain vessel deployment and investment decisions. Lloyd’s Register recommended that ports prioritize infrastructure investments based on credible demand, supported by appropriate safety regulations, emergency response capabilities and closer coordination with shipping companies and fuel suppliers.
