Port of Naples Marks First LNG Ship-to-Ship Bunkering
The Port of Naples has completed its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship-to-ship bunkering operation for a cruise vessel, a milestone that strengthens Italy’s emerging network of cleaner-fuel hubs in the central Mediterranean.
Energy trader Axpo, classification society Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, and engineering firm Studio di Ingegneria Benvenuto & Associati worked together on the inaugural LNG transfer in Naples. The operation supplied LNG to Sun Princess, a new generation cruise ship built to run on the lower-emission fuel.
Landmark Operation Fuels Next-Generation Cruise Ship
The ship-to-ship transfer was carried out using the LNG bunkering vessel Green Zeebrugge alongside the cruise ship, rather than from shore-based infrastructure. Reports indicate that the operation took place within the port area under tightly controlled conditions, demonstrating that Naples can handle large passenger vessels while managing the additional safety requirements associated with LNG.
According to published coverage, the successful operation confirms that the port can support regular LNG refuelling for cruise ships calling in the Bay of Naples. It also gives cruise lines an additional option when planning itineraries for LNG-powered vessels in the central Mediterranean, a region where bunkering availability remains more limited than in northern Europe.
Regulatory Template for Italian Ports
Industry reports indicate that Bureau Veritas conducted a technical review of a Quantitative Risk Assessment prepared by Studio Benvenuto to demonstrate compliance with Italian and international safety frameworks. The assessment considered factors such as exclusion zones, emergency procedures, and interaction with nearby port traffic.
The operation in Naples followed guidelines developed by Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and requirements set by the National Fire and Rescue Service, aligning local practice with international LNG bunkering standards. This framework is intended to ensure that ship-to-ship transfers can be repeated safely as traffic grows.
Boost for Low-Emission Cruising in the Mediterranean
LNG-powered cruise ships are being introduced across major brands as part of wider decarbonisation strategies. Compared with conventional marine fuel oil, LNG can significantly reduce sulphur oxide and particulate emissions and lower nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide output on a tank-to-wake basis, according to industry analyses.
The addition of Naples to the Mediterranean LNG bunkering map is expected to make itinerary planning more flexible for cruise operators deploying LNG vessels in the region. Reports indicate that the Sun Princess already operates itineraries in the Mediterranean, and the ability to refuel at Naples will provide an additional option for these vessels.
Original Article: Port of Naples Marks First LNG Ship-to-Ship Bunkering — Thetraveler