By
Alex Smith |
The Port of Marseille Fos, Shell and Carnival Corporation have carried out the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation in France, refuelling Costa Cruises’ Costa Smeralda.
Shell, which is under contract with Carnival, supplied the LNG to Costa Smeralda via its bunkering vessel, Coral Methane, at the Port of Marseille Fos. The manoeuvre began with Coral Methane positioning herself in line with Costa Smeralda’s bunker station. Once the Coral Methane was secured, the loading hose was transferred by the her crane and the necessary equipment to allow LNG to be transferred safely to Costa Smeralda was installed. Refuelling was then carried out overnight. The first transfer took place on 4 May.
"We are all proud to have been able to complete this operation smoothly and safely,” said Amaury de Maupeou, the Marseille Fos Port Authority commander. “It has required studies, instructions and procedures to be agreed with the various players, and in line with European and global standards. This is a first in France and proves to what extent, even during the current health crisis, we are capable of supporting the development of LNG, which is one of the measures deployed by the Port of Marseille Fos to reduce its environmental impact.”
The operation was carried out in coordination between the ship services of the port, the crew of Costa Smeralda and the crew of Coral Methane, which is operated by Dutch shipowner Anthony Veder. Marseille firefighters also closely monitored the transfer in liaison with the harbour master’s office at the port.
“We are happy that our new LNG powered flagship Costa Smeralda was part of this new milestone for the Port of Marseille in partnership with Shell,” said Franco Porcellacchia, vice president of sustainable innovation and infrastructure development at Costa Group. “Carnival and Costa specifically have been the first cruise operator to invest in sustainable innovation with LNG and continue to be committed to ensuring the highest environmental standards for a more sustainable future of cruising.”
Costa Smeralda was recently voted Cruise and Ferry’s ‘Cruise Ship of the Year’ in the first Ship of the Year Awards. Read more in the latest issue of Cruise & Ferry Review.