{"id":1050,"date":"2020-07-14T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portstrategy.nfdtesting.uk\/greenport\/2020\/07\/14\/marseille-fos-doubles-down-on-lng-for-cruise-vessels\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T13:48:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T12:48:39","slug":"marseille-fos-doubles-down-on-lng-for-cruise-vessels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/news\/cruise-greenport\/marseille-fos-doubles-down-on-lng-for-cruise-vessels\/","title":{"rendered":"Marseille Fos doubles down on LNG for cruise vessels"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Carnival Corporation and Marseille Fos have worked together with Shell on the LNG refuelling project, which advances the French port\u2019s plans to focus on growing demand to bunker new LNG cruise vessels.<\/p>\n<p>The Anthony Veder Coral Methane bunker vessel, which is operated in partnership with Shell, successfully refuelled <em>Costa Smeralda<\/em> on 4 May 2020, establishing its capacity to supply LNG to cruise ships that can use the low-emission fuel. The breakthrough complements a raft of measures being introduced at Marseille Fos to cut air emissions in the port, including investment of \u20ac20 million to reach the goal of becoming the Mediterranean\u2019s first 100% electric port by 2025.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Port of Marseille Fos is a member of the SGMF, a working group in which Carnival Corporation also participates,\u201d says Florence Perouas, harbour official \u2013 LNG expert at Marseille Fos Port Authority.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe specialised teams from the Port and Carnival Corporation have been working together on these subjects for three years. It was therefore in a climate of mutual trust that we worked together on this operation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Opportunities and challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline_image inline_image_right image_size_small fullsize\" data-attachment=\"106070\" data-sequence=\"4\"><button class=\"show-fullscreen\" data-url=\"\/attachment?attype=P&amp;atcode=106070&amp;storycode=1248572\">Show Fullscreen<\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tom Strang, senior vice president, Maritime Affairs, Carnival Corporation\" src=\"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/01_106070_TStrang.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazyloaded wp-image-1052\" width=\"4108\" height=\"2522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/01_106070_TStrang.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/01_106070_TStrang-300x184.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/01_106070_TStrang-1024x628.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/01_106070_TStrang-768x471.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/01_106070_TStrang-1536x943.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4108px) 100vw, 4108px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline_meta\">\n<p class=\"inline_title\">Tom Strang, senior vice president, Maritime Affairs, Carnival<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_source\"><cite>Source: Carnival Corporation<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Despite the existing relationship between the organisations, this was no ordinary operation and brought many new challenges.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe major difficulty was \u2013 within the time allocated \u2013 to guarantee a maximum level of safety without applying the usual licensing procedures,\u201d explains Ms Perouas. \u201cThe level of knowledge, expertise and mastery of the relevant stakeholders has enabled the issuance of an authorisation for a single operation \u2013 with the same strict requirements as an agreement. The port was able to analyse the required necessary studies very quickly. It has been attentive to Shell\u2019s prerequisites and shared operating procedures enabled to issue an authorisation within very short deadlines.\u201d Following the success of the operation, a second was scheduled for 14 June.<\/p>\n<p>For Carnival Corporation, it was an opportunity to work with Marseille Fos and Shell to ensure that the new LNG facilities and infrastructure at the port were a good fit for <em>Costa Smeralda<\/em> and other Carnival Corporation brand ships. The Covid-19 crisis added another layer of complexity to an already complex schedule.<\/p>\n<p>Tom Strang, senior vice president, maritime affairs, Carnival Corporation, says: \u201cBecause of the current situation where our ships are unable to operate as normal, we needed to find a solution where the fuel came to the ship. While Marseilles has an LNG facility, there is no current LNG bunkering vessel located in the port, so we needed to use our existing supplier and their supply chain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been working closely with the port over recent years to develop the necessary processes and procedures, so it was a good exercise to use the basis that we already had to develop in a very short time the ability to carry out the bunkering operation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Carnival Corporation, bringing Marseille online for LNG provision adds a useful source of LNG bunkering in the Mediterranean, in addition to the company\u2019s other resources in the region. \u201cI am not sure if we will use Marseille as a future LNG hub given our existing commitment to Barcelona,\u201d says Mr Strang. \u201cIt does however give us a good option to consider in the future and demonstrates the flexibility of the operation and the intent of the port to get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>LNG hub<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline_image inline_image_right image_size_med fullsize zoom\" data-attachment=\"106069\" data-sequence=\"3\"><button class=\"show-fullscreen\" data-url=\"\/attachment?attype=P&amp;atcode=106069&amp;storycode=1248572\">Show Fullscreen<\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Methane terminal at Port of Marseille\" src=\"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/02_106069_Port_de_Marseille_Fos_terminal_methanier_19.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazyloaded wp-image-1053\" width=\"5695\" height=\"3124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/02_106069_Port_de_Marseille_Fos_terminal_methanier_19.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/02_106069_Port_de_Marseille_Fos_terminal_methanier_19-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/02_106069_Port_de_Marseille_Fos_terminal_methanier_19-1024x561.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/02_106069_Port_de_Marseille_Fos_terminal_methanier_19-768x421.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/02_106069_Port_de_Marseille_Fos_terminal_methanier_19-1536x842.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5695px) 100vw, 5695px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline_meta\">\n<p class=\"inline_title\">Methane terminal<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_source\"><cite>Source: Port of Marseille Fos.<\/cite><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_caption\">LNG bunker vessel at the methane terminal, Port of Marseille.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Several factors make Marseille Fos the ideal location for an LNG hub to serve cruise ships in the region, says Ms Perouas. \u201cWith this operation, the port has proven its perfect mastery of the essential security conditions. It was quick to react. Marseille Fos is also a port community whose coordination of actors is excellent. The common response was of high quality: Mooring, piloting, towing, harbour master, the Marseille marine fire department and terminal\u2026 all were of great professionalism. The port, in a fine analysis of the needs, had the capacity to give clear and precise directives to ensure the safety of the operations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tahir Faruqui, general manager, Shell Global Downstream LNG, said on the occasion of the first LNG cruise bunkering operation at Marseille Fos: \u201cWe\u2019re pleased that even in these challenging times for the industry, Shell is able to play a small role in helping to ensure continuity of LNG supply to our customers. We\u2019re glad that we have been able to work efficiently with the Port of Marseille and Carnival Corporation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Within two years, Marseille Fos expects to provide a leading LNG offer in the Mediterranean. This is based on several developments, says Ms Perouas, including the first LNG calls at the cruise terminal that started last year, along with \u201cthe confirmation by Engie of its plans for continued activity at the Elengy terminal in Fos Tonkin beyond 2028; Total\u2019s announcement of the construction of an LNG bunker vessel for the bunkering of the five LNG container ships of 15,000 teu from CMA CGM which should stop at Fos from 2021 and the mobilisation of the Marseille Provence Cruise Club and commitment of cruise companies through the Blue Charter promoting the scheduling in Marseille of LNG-fuelled ships.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The major challenge in setting up the LNG facility was to reach the agreed level of safety in a very short time, she says. \u201cIt also involved finding technical solutions tailored to Shell\u2019s needs in particular. It is the professionalism of all stakeholders that made the operation successful. Mutual trust also played a role.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Green offerings<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline_image inline_image_right image_size_med fullsize zoom\" data-attachment=\"106067\" data-sequence=\"1\"><button class=\"show-fullscreen\" data-url=\"\/attachment?attype=P&amp;atcode=106067&amp;storycode=1248572\">Show Fullscreen<\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"picture\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Costa Cruises\u2019 vessel, Costa Smeralda\" src=\"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/03_106067_CostaSmeralda_SeaTrials_LNG.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazyloaded wp-image-1054\" width=\"2569\" height=\"1850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/03_106067_CostaSmeralda_SeaTrials_LNG.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/03_106067_CostaSmeralda_SeaTrials_LNG-300x216.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/03_106067_CostaSmeralda_SeaTrials_LNG-1024x737.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/03_106067_CostaSmeralda_SeaTrials_LNG-768x553.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/03_106067_CostaSmeralda_SeaTrials_LNG-1536x1106.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2569px) 100vw, 2569px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline_meta\">\n<p class=\"inline_title\">Costa Smeralda<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_source\"><cite>Source: Carnival Corporation<\/cite><\/p>\n<p class=\"inline_caption\">Costa Cruises\u2019 vessel, Costa Smeralda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The port authority offers a range of \u2018green\u2019 services to ships that are attracted by the LNG bunkering facilities. \u201cReducing the environmental impact of human and economic activities is now at the heart of everyone\u2019s concerns,\u201d says Ms Perouas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor maritime transport, the international standards of the International Maritime Organization and the European Union go in this direction, imposing the use of cleaner fuel (0.5% sulphur content) since 1 January 2020, which comes in addition to the already existing limitation (0.1% sulphur content) for ships staying more than two hours at berth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She adds: \u201cIn parallel with these international rules, with industrial companies, ship owners and shipping companies, the port of Marseille Fos is committed to an energy transition favourable to the environment. The port of Marseille Fos is one of the 14 ports in the world to offer shipping companies shore power, the most radical solution for preserving air quality during call. Since January 2017, the port of Marseille is the first one in France and the only one in the Mediterranean to offer this possibility to its customers on a regular basis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In June 2019, the Marseille Fos Port Supervisory Board unanimously approved the start of an investment programme for the construction of electrical installations that will provide new connections for suitably equipped vessels when berthed in Marseille: The impact of this programme will be seen in particular in the Cap Janet international passenger terminal, which will open in 2022; the ship repair terminals at gate 4 and on the L\u00e9on Gourret jetty cruise terminal from now until 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn anticipation of future regulations and to respond to environmental and health issues in the territory, the Port of Marseille Fos is deploying an offensive strategy via investments that will reach \u20ac20 million,\u201d remarks Ms Perouas. \u201cThe Corsica docks are already equipped: La M\u00e9ridionale connected its ships in 2017 and Corsica Line in 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The statistics for this drive to establish shorepower connection are impressive: all of the passenger terminals in the port of Marseille Fos will be equipped by 2024, traffic representing 1,800 calls per year, or 66% of the stops in the Marseille basins. Meanwhile 100 stopovers of ships undergoing naval repair were connected at low voltage in 2019. Even the impact of Covid-19 has not stopped the port in its tracks. \u201cIt had an impact on the administrative part of the projects (which require stakeholder consultation in person), but the operational side continued to operate and the schedule is maintained.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ms Perouas concludes: \u201cWe believe that the environmental initiatives should be an important part of the economic recovery plans which are currently being designed in France and in Europe, and that this will especially be true in the port of Marseille Fos, whose strategic ambition is to be \u2018a green port to develop the blue economy\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a cruise industry first for France, a debut ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation has set the scene for the new generation of cruise vessels to refuel at Marseille Fos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"sponsor":[],"class_list":["post-1050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cruise-greenport"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1050"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1050\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1055,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1050\/revisions\/1055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1050"},{"taxonomy":"sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sponsor?post=1050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}