Alternative Fuel Vessels: Top 10 Orders from Maersk, Evergreen Total 100+ Ships and $5 B+ (2024-2026)

The global maritime industry is executing a decisive pivot toward decarbonization, underscored by a surge of strategic orders for ammonia and methanol-fueled vessels between January 2024 and August 2026. Analysis of commercial activity reveals that leading shipping corporations are no longer hedging but are actively committing billions to fleet renewals centered on dual-fuel technologies. This wave of investment, led by container giants like A.P. Moller-Maersk and Evergreen Marine Corp., signals that methanol is the dominant near-term solution, while substantial orders for ammonia-powered ships highlight the industry’s long-term zero-carbon ambitions. The dominant theme for 2025 is the operationalization of these strategies, as the first wave of these next-generation vessels enters service, putting pressure on global bunkering infrastructure to keep pace.

1. A.P. Moller-Maersk

Company: A.P. Moller-Maersk
Installation Capacity: 20 dual-fuel vessels
Application: Container shipping
Source: Maersk completes order of 20 dual-fuel vessels, Maersk to have 19 methanol-powered vessels on the water …

2. Evergreen Marine Corp.

Company: Evergreen Marine Corp.
Installation Capacity: 27 vessels (16 methanol-enabled newbuilds and 11 methanol dual-fuel 24, 000 TEU container ships)
Application: Container shipping
Source: Hydrogen in the maritime sector, Evergreen to spend nearly $3 bn on ‘mega-size’ container …

3. Fortescue / CMB.TECH

Company: Fortescue / CMB.TECH
Installation Capacity: Up to 12 ammonia-powered Newcastlemax vessels (210, 000 DWT each)
Application: Bulk carrier charter
Source: CMB.TECH, Annual Report 2024

4. Ocean Network Express (ONE)

Company: Ocean Network Express (ONE)
Installation Capacity: 12 methanol dual-fuel container ships (13, 000 TEU each)
Application: Container shipping
Source: 23 methanol-powered ships ordered since the start of 2024

5. Hapag-Lloyd

Company: Hapag-Lloyd
Installation Capacity: 12 ammonia-powered ships (9, 200 TEU each)
Application: Container shipping
Source: Order book grows for ammonia-powered engines & vessels

6. CMA CGM

Company: CMA CGM
Installation Capacity: 20 vessels (10 ammonia-fueled and 10 ammonia-ready ultra-large container vessels)
Application: Container shipping
Source: CMA CGM Orders Ten Ammonia-Fueled Container Ships, CMA CGM Orders Ten Ammonia-Ready Ultra-Large …

7. Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS)

Company: Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS)
Installation Capacity: At least 6 ammonia dual-fuel ships (ammonia carriers and bulkers)
Application: Diversified shipping (carriers, bulkers)
Source: Which companies back ammonia-fuelled ships to help cut …

8. Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Company: Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Installation Capacity: 4 additional methanol-fueled ships
Application: Roll-on/roll-off (Ro Ro) car carriers
Source: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Orders Four More Methanol-Fueled …

9. Trafigura

Company: Trafigura
Installation Capacity: 4 medium-sized gas carriers with dual-fuel ammonia engines
Application: Gas transport / Commodity charter
Source: Win GD

10. Berge Bulk

Company: Berge Bulk
Installation Capacity: 2 ammonia dual-fuel Newcastlemax vessels (210, 000-DWT)
Application: Bulk carrier
Source: Which companies back ammonia-fuelled ships to help cut …

Table: Top Ammonia & Methanol Vessel Orders (Jan 2024 – Aug 2026)

Alternative Fuel Adoption: Methanol Leads as Container Lines Place 100+ Ship Orders

The data reveals a clear trend: the container shipping segment is the vanguard of alternative fuel adoption. Major liners, including Maersk, Evergreen Marine, ONE, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd, have collectively ordered over 100 new vessels capable of running on methanol or ammonia. This aggressive fleet renewal is driven by a dual-fuel strategy, which allows vessels to operate on either conventional or green fuels, mitigating risks associated with fuel availability and price volatility. This approach provides operational flexibility while demonstrating a tangible commitment to regulatory bodies and ESG-conscious customers. The scale of these orders creates a powerful demand signal that is rippling through the entire maritime value chain, from engine manufacturers to fuel producers.

Container Segment Dominance

The sheer volume of orders from container giants underscores their strategic imperative to decarbonize. Maersk’s order for 20 dual-fuel vessels and its plan to have 19 methanol ships operational by 2025 sets a rapid pace. Evergreen’s commitment to 27 methanol-enabled ships, including 11 massive 24, 000 TEU vessels, represents a potential investment of nearly $3 billion. These moves are echoed by alliances, such as the one involving Orient Overseas Container Line, which further consolidates the container sector’s bet on methanol. This widespread adoption among the world’s largest carriers indicates that methanol has achieved a critical mass of acceptance as the primary transition fuel for the segment.

Diversification into Bulk and Ro Ro

While container lines lead, the trend is expanding into other vital shipping segments. The charter of up to 12 ammonia-powered Newcastlemax vessels by mining giant Fortescue from CMB.TECH is a landmark move for the bulk carrier industry. It directly links a major commodity producer with zero-emission shipping. Similarly, Berge Bulk’s order for two ammonia-fueled bulkers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s expansion of its methanol-fueled Ro Ro fleet with four new ships demonstrate that specialized carriers are also embracing alternative fuels. These orders are significant because they prove the technical and commercial viability of green fuels beyond the standardized container vessel model.

Methanol Orders Accelerate: Key Carriers Pivot for 2024-2026 Deliveries
Shipping giants are rapidly pivoting to Methanol as a key alternative fuel. Maersk, COSCO, and Evergreen show significant Methanol orderbooks or plans for 2024-2026. COSCO, a ‘very late adopter’, is now betting ‘Methanol only’, while Evergreen ‘expected to order methanol ‘MGX’ soon”, indicating a strong, decisive shift in adoption strategies.

Strategic Shifts: Methanol Gains Traction as Decarbonization Solution
The diverse fuel strategies among top carriers (Methanol-only, LNG-focused, or dual-fuel) highlight fragmentation in the decarbonization pathway. However, the strong and sudden adoption of Methanol by late movers like COSCO and Evergreen signals growing confidence in its viability, potentially simplifying future infrastructure demands for this fuel type.

(Source: ALPHALINER — via Dual-fuel ship orders plateau in the first 10 months of 2025 – SAFETY4SEA)

Europe and Asia Lead: Maersk and Evergreen Drive Dual-Fuel Strategy

Geographically, the momentum for alternative-fueled vessels is concentrated in Europe and Asia. European shipping lines like Maersk (Denmark), Hapag-Lloyd (Germany), and CMA CGM (France) are at the forefront, driven by stringent regional regulations and corporate climate pledges. Concurrently, Asian giants such as Evergreen (Taiwan) and ONE (Singapore) are making equally substantial investments, reflecting a competitive push to maintain market leadership. The supply side is almost exclusively dominated by Asian shipyards in South Korea and China, which have become the global manufacturing centers for these advanced, high-value vessels.

European Decarbonization Mandates

The aggressive fleet renewal strategies of European carriers are directly linked to the continent’s regulatory environment, particularly the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ package and the Fuel EU Maritime initiative. These regulations impose escalating emissions reduction targets and greenhouse gas intensity limits on ships calling at EU ports. By ordering methanol and ammonia-powered vessels now, companies like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are future-proofing their fleets to ensure compliance and avoid significant financial penalties, positioning themselves as leaders in sustainable shipping.

Asian Shipbuilding Supremacy

The construction of these next-generation vessels is firmly centered in Asia. South Korean shipbuilders like HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Chinese yards such as New Times Shipbuilding and Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding have secured the majority of these high-value contracts. Their established expertise in constructing complex vessels like gas carriers and ultra-large container ships has given them a competitive edge in building dual-fuel ships. This concentration reinforces Asia’s critical role not just in global trade but also as the industrial engine powering the maritime energy transition.

30+ Ammonia Vessels Ordered, Signaling a Long-Term Bet Beyond Methanol

The order book reveals a two-speed energy transition. Methanol is the clear winner for immediate, large-scale deployment, with its technological maturity and comparatively simpler handling requirements. Over 80 methanol-fueled vessels were ordered by this group alone. However, the significant and growing number of firm orders for ammonia-powered ships—totaling over 30—indicates a strong industry bet on ammonia as a true zero-carbon fuel for the long term. Companies are placing these orders for delivery starting in 2026 and 2027, demonstrating confidence that engine technology and safety protocols will mature in time.

Methanol’s Commercial Lead

Methanol’s current dominance is built on a foundation of technological readiness. Dual-fuel methanol engines are commercially available, and the path to operationalizing these vessels is well-defined, as demonstrated by Maersk’s flagship *Ane Maersk*. The large orders from Evergreen, ONE, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen confirm its status as the go-to transition fuel. This momentum is creating a virtuous cycle, encouraging investment in production from companies like European Energy and securing large-scale supply via Green Methanol 2026, $3.4 B in Projects, Proman Financing. The industry’s ability to get these ships on the water quickly is a key advantage.

Ammonia as the Zero-Carbon Goal

Ammonia’s appeal lies in its carbon-free composition (NH 3). The bold commitments from Hapag-Lloyd for 12 ammonia-powered ships, CMA CGM for 10, and Fortescue’s charter for 12 bulk carriers are not speculative; they are concrete investments in a future hydrogen economy. These orders, along with those from EPS, Trafigura, and Berge Bulk, are pushing engine manufacturers like MAN Energy Solutions and Win GD to finalize their dual-fuel ammonia engine designs. While challenges around toxicity and handling remain, these orders provide the commercial impetus needed to resolve them and develop the necessary onboard systems, including advanced Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells for auxiliary power.

Scenario 2026: Green Methanol Bunkering Races to Meet Maersk’s Fleet Demand

The most critical strategic variable for 2026 is the race to establish a global green methanol bunkering network. With dozens of large methanol-powered container ships entering service, the demand for green fuel will surge. If port infrastructure and fuel production, such as projects from producers like ACME Green Methanol, fail to scale in parallel, these advanced vessels will be forced to operate on conventional marine gasoil, negating the environmental benefits and undermining the return on these multi-billion-dollar investments. Watch for major port authorities to announce new partnerships and infrastructure projects throughout 2025.

• Signal Gaining Traction: Demand for green methanol is being solidified through offtake agreements from major shipping alliances. Competitors like Mediterranean Shipping Company and COSCO Shipping Lines are also securing supply, creating a competitive market for green fuel and accelerating production investments.
• Signal Gaining Traction: Engine manufacturers are reporting strong order books for dual-fuel methanol engines, while shipyards like Chantiers de l’Atlantique are integrating them with advanced systems like solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) to further boost efficiency, confirming the technology’s readiness for mass deployment.
• Signal Losing Steam: While firm orders for ammonia-fueled vessels exist, the development of class rules, crew training protocols, and bunkering safety standards for ammonia is progressing more slowly than for methanol. This lag could push the widespread use of ammonia as a marine fuel past the 2027–2028 timeframe, making “ammonia-ready” a longer-term designation than initially hoped.

The questions your competitors are already asking

This report covers one angle of alternative fuel adoption in the maritime industry. The questions that matter most depend on your work.

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• green ammonia fuel price forecast for shipping
• shipyards building methanol and ammonia vessels
• COSCO MSC alternative fuel vessel orders

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