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.

Carnival Corporation and Marseille Fos have worked together with Shell on the LNG refuelling project, which advances the French port’s plans to focus on growing demand to bunker new LNG cruise vessels.

The Anthony Veder Coral Methane bunker vessel, which is operated in partnership with Shell, successfully refuelled Costa Smeralda 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 €20 million to reach the goal of becoming the Mediterranean’s first 100% electric port by 2025.