Oslo, Norway — September 11, 2025

Ships are getting ready. The fuels are not. That’s the blunt message from DNV, one of the world’s leading classification societies, in its latest outlook on maritime decarbonization.

The report notes that hundreds of vessels are now ordered with dual-fuel engines or designed for alternative fuels such as methanol, LNG, or ammonia. Yet global supply of those fuels lags far behind demand. “We’re building ships that may not have anything to run on,” one DNV analyst said.

A widening gap

According to DNV, the orderbook for methanol-ready ships has surged since 2023. Ammonia-ready designs are also climbing. But production facilities for these fuels are delayed, underfunded, or not even planned in key regions. The result: a looming mismatch between the fleet’s readiness and the availability of clean energy.

Why it matters

If supply doesn’t catch up, owners could be left with vessels forced to burn conventional fuel for years, undermining decarbonization pledges. Shippers that count on lower-carbon transport may face disappointment — and higher costs if carbon taxes hit before green fuel becomes widely available.

Industry reaction

Shipowners say they support the transition but cannot shoulder the infrastructure costs alone. Energy companies argue demand is still too uncertain to justify multibillion-dollar investments. The stalemate risks slowing progress just as regulators in Europe and Asia tighten emissions rules.

Outlook

DNV’s warning is clear: unless governments, financiers, and energy producers step in, the maritime sector could face a bottleneck — green ships tied to gray fuels. The next two years will decide whether momentum accelerates or stalls.

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