LNG cruise ship bunkered at Barcelona

Carnival Corporation subsidiary AIDA Cruises fuelled the 337m long AIDAnova for the first time in the Mediterranean with LNG.

Mercè Conesa, president of the port, said he was pleased “in finding that the sector, and in particular Carnival Corporation, also share the vision of the Port of Barcelona and work to protect the environment and promote sustainability in the cruise industry. “

The port is developing pilot projects that demonstrate and promote the viability of LNG as a mobility fuel, both for boats and for trucks and terminal machinery. These initiatives are outlined in the port’s Improvement Plan for Air Quality, ​​which aims to minimize the impact of port activity in the environment.

It is currently working with multiple stakeholders to pilot and measure the efficiency of LNG on land and at sea to try and reduce NOx, SO2 and PM emissions. The project was introduced by the port authority as part of the Metropolitan region’s Horizon 2020 action plan to improve air quality.

In November, the first LNG fuelling station in Spain’s state port system was opened at the Port of Barcelona to promote the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel for land transport of goods. The gas station was developed by Spanish LNG services provider HAM, the Port of Barcelona and Portuguese energy company Galp.