Greece-based Navios Maritime Partners has taken delivery of a new Aframax/LR2 product tanker designed for future conversion to methanol or LNG propulsion.

The 117,012 DWT vessel, named Nave Orbit, has officially joined the company's fleet, Navios Maritime Partners announced in a LinkedIn post on Friday.

"Nave Orbit is also equipped with Framo Pumps and has been designed with the latest environmentally friendly technology to optimize energy efficiency and safety, strengthening our decarbonization path," the company said in the post.

The delivery reflects a broader trend across the maritime industry, where several shipowners have ordered methanol- or alternative-fuel-ready vessels in recent years as they evaluate which alternative fuels are likely to achieve wider adoption. This strategy enables owners to operate ships on conventional fuels initially while preserving the option to convert them to alternative-fuel propulsion at a later date. The push comes as the International Maritime Organization targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, with interim checkpoints for 2030 and 2040, creating pressure on owners to future-proof newbuilds against tightening regulations and carbon-pricing measures.

However, while a growing number of methanol-ready vessels have entered service, relatively few have undergone actual conversion to methanol propulsion to date. Hapag-Lloyd and Seaspan are among the companies that have carried out such retrofits. The slow pace of conversions reflects ongoing uncertainty over the availability, cost, and bunkering infrastructure for alternative marine fuels, leaving many owners waiting for clearer signals before committing to full retrofits.

According to its website, Navios Partners operates a fleet of 173 ships with a total carrying capacity of 15.9 million DWT and 287,243 TEU.

Source: Ship & Bunker