Port fuel infrastructure is struggling to match the expansion of the alternative-fuel fleet, according to a Lloyd’s Register report covered by Hellenic Shipping News. Citing Clarksons Research, the report puts orders for alternative-fuel-capable vessels at 1,942 in January 2026, accounting for 47% of worldwide orderbook tonnage. However, the availability of bunkering services varies substantially between fuels and locations.
LNG bunkering was available at 222 ports, against 25 actively supplying methanol. The first commercial ammonia bunkering operation took place at Ulsan, South Korea, in April 2026. LR identified orders for 385 methanol-capable ships and 45 ammonia-capable vessels, but said supporting infrastructure and low-carbon fuel supplies remained concentrated in relatively few ports. Most ports considering ammonia were still working through pilots, trials or safety frameworks.
The Fuel for Thought: Ports report argues that owners can no longer assess fuel selection independently of vessel deployment. Newbuilding and conversion decisions need to account for supply at the ports ships will visit. Kamran Ul Haq, senior vice president of LR Ports Advisory, said ordering a vessel capable of using an alternative fuel did not guarantee access to that fuel across its intended trading network.
The transition also differs by geography. Many commercial and near-commercial developments highlighted by LR were concentrated in Northern Europe, North Asia and Singapore. LNG has an established, broadly global supply network, while methanol is gaining a commercial foothold at a limited number of major ports. Hydrogen remains principally associated with short-sea shipping and demonstration projects.
Biofuel blends offer the most readily deployable option because they can largely use existing bunker infrastructure, the report found. LR’s Fuel Oil Bunker Analysis and Advisory Service recorded drop-in biofuel deliveries at 90 ports over the preceding 12 months. The leading 13 ports represented 77.5% of recorded bunker quantities, with Singapore contributing more than a quarter.
For ports, LR recommends linking investment to credible demand rather than preparing for every fuel. Ul Haq identified specific vessel programmes and green shipping corridors as ways to limit infrastructure risk. The report also emphasises berth-level risk assessments, licensing, emergency readiness and trained staff as foundations for moving from trials to regular supply.