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LNG Bunkering

Costa Cruises completes first LNG bunkering operation in Italy with ‘Costa Smeralda’

The ship-to-ship operation was carried out at the port of La Spezia with the bunkering vessel Coral Methane under the supervision of the Italian Coast Guard.

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Costa Cruises, an Italian cruise line and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, on Monday (26 October) said the first liquified natural gas (LNG) bunker operation in Italy was performed on the company’s first LNG powered ship Costa Smeralda on Sunday (25 October).

Costa added that the operation was supported by the Italian Coast Guard, Port Authority of Eastern Ligurian Sea, local authorities and Shell, which is the LNG supplier partner for Costa Group and its parent company, Carnival Corporation.

The operation was carried out in the port of La Spezia and completed by 6:00 pm, where the bunkering vessel Coral Methane was positioned alongside (bow to bow) Costa Smeralda, under the supervision of the Italian Coast Guard and in coordination with all parties involved and the crews of Costa Smeralda and Coral Methane.

“As part of our deep commitment to sustainability, we are proud to have our LNG-powered flagship Costa Smeralda mark this milestone for Italy and the port of La Spezia,” said Franco Porcellacchia, vice president of sustainable innovation and infrastructure development for Costa Group.

“Carnival Corporation and Costa were the first cruise operator to invest in sustainable innovation with LNG-powered ship technology and we continue to be committed to ensuring the highest environmental standards for a more sustainable future of cruising.”

“With the LNG bunkering that took place in La Spezia, we also marked the 50th successful operation for a Costa Group ship,” said Tom Strang, senior vice president of maritime affairs for Carnival Corporation.

 “This is another important milestone that we have achieved by working together with our partners, as we continue to demonstrate Carnival Corporation’s commitment to sustainability and developing the most advanced fuel technologies available today.” 

“The goal of our working group was to implement appropriate rules and procedures to ensure the highest safety standards, starting with navigation, environmental protection, fire prevention and workplace safety,” said Giovanni Stella, captain of La Spezia Coast Guard.

 “Every prescription adopted was duly observed and we are particularly satisfied that the operation had a regular evolution. Thanks to this positive experience, we believe that other maritime authorities can implement the regulation we have defined in order to increase the LNG distribution infrastructure in Italian ports, as indicated by the Italian and European regulations.” 

“A very important milestone was reached for the first time in our country, once again right in the port of La Spezia,” said Carla Roncallo, president of the Port Authority of Eastern Ligurian Sea.

“I would like to thank in particular the La Spezia Coast Guard and the Maritime Directorate of Liguria, who together with Costa Cruises made this operation possible, always keeping safety at the first place.”

Costa Smeralda is the first LNG-powered ship in the Costa Cruises fleet, and will be followed by Costa Toscana, the sister LNG ship scheduled to be delivered in late 2021, said the company.

Another LNG ship, AIDAnova from AIDA Cruises, has been operating within the Costa Group fleet since 2018 and she will be followed by other two sister vessels by 2023.

As part of the overall Carnival Corporation fleet, a third LNG-powered ship, P&O Cruises UK’s Iona, was recently delivered.


Photo credit: Costa Cruises
Published: 27 October, 2020

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LNG Bunkering

CCEC and CMA CGM form joint venture to build and operate LNG bunkering vessel

Each party will hold a 50% ownership stake in the joint venture, which has been established for the purpose of constructing, chartering, and operating one 20,000 cbm dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel.

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Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp. (CCEC), an international owner of ocean-going gas vessels, on Friday (12 June) announced the formation of a joint venture company with CMA CGM. 

Each party will hold a 50% ownership stake in the joint venture, which has been established for the purpose of constructing, chartering, and operating one 20,000 cbm dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel. 

The joint venture marks CCEC’s entry into the LNG bunkering segment, the company’s first vessel dedicated to marine fuel supply.

In connection with this transaction, the joint venture has entered into a shipbuilding contract with Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) for the construction of the vessel at a contract price of USD 82.8 million, with delivery expected in the third quarter of 2028.

Incorporating the latest technologies, the vessel is designed to enable safe and reliable LNG transfers across a wide range of operating conditions. Advanced emissions reduction systems, combined with highly efficient dual-fuel power generation, are designed to help the vessel meet applicable environmental standards of the global shipping industry.

In addition, the joint venture is expected to enter into a 12-year time charter with a joint venture company formed between CMA CGM and TotalEnergies, commencing upon delivery of the vessel from the shipyard.

Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO of Capital Clean Energy Carriers, commented: “This joint venture marks CCEC’s entry into LNG bunkering — a natural extension of our gas platform from carriage into marine fuel supply. 

“Working alongside counterparties of the calibre of CMA CGM and TotalEnergies, we can help build the infrastructure that allows LNG to deliver a cleaner emissions profile, alongside security and diversity of supply, while opening a new, long-term contracted revenue stream for the Company through the Joint Venture.”

Christine Cabau, Executive Vice President Operations and Assets of CMA CGM, said: “Together with Capital Clean Energy Carriers and TotalEnergies, we are committed to building a reliable and high-performance LNG bunkering supply chain, which is essential to ensuring the availability and reliability of fuels such as LNG that represent the first step in the decarbonization of our industry.”

 

Photo credit: Scott Graham
Published: 16 June, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Conventional fuels slump in major ports

HSFO becomes cheaper than B100 in Rotterdam; Singapore’s B100 flips to premium over LSMGO; Rotterdam LBM discounts to LNG widen.

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ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Conventional fuels slump in major ports

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of alternative and conventional bunker fuel prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

  • HSFO becomes cheaper than B100 in Rotterdam
  • Singapore’s B100 flips to premium over LSMGO
  • Rotterdam LBM discounts to LNG widen

Brent’s price has slumped by $14.73/bbl ($108/mt) on the week after US President Donald Trump announced a preliminary peace deal with Iran yesterday. The sharp decline has dragged conventional fuel prices lower in both Rotterdam and Singapore.

Rotterdam’s B100 has shifted to a $14/mt premium over HSFO, from a $1/mt discount seen a week ago.

B100 discounts to VLSFO and LSMGO have narrowed by $54/mt and $89/mt to $50/mt and $343/mt, respectively.

In Singapore, B100 has shifted from a $79/mt discount to LSMGO to a $16/mt premium.

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Conventional fuels slump in major ports
ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: Conventional fuels slump in major ports

Rotterdam’s liquefied biomethane (LBM) discounts to its LSMGO have narrowed by $21-28/mt in the past week, to $639-844/mt, depending on the LNG engine type.

Liquid fuels

Rotterdam’s HSFO (-$71/mt) and VLSFO (-$110/mt) prices have to some extent tracked a $14.73/bbl ($108/mt) drop in front-month ICE Brent futures. Its LSMGO benchmark has fallen by $145/mt, exceeding a $125/mt decline in front-month ICE low sulphur gasoil futures.

The port’s B100 price has dropped by $56/mt over the past week. Dutch ZRE A ticket prices have edged down by €2/mtCO2e to €108/mtCO2e.

Singapore’s conventional fuel prices have fallen by $112-167/mt, and its B100 price by $72/mt.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG bunker prices have dropped by $77-83/mt in the past week, largely tracking a 12% decline in the front-month Dutch TTF Natural Gas contract.

Its LBM prices have fallen by $117-124/mt. LBM discounts to LNG have widened by $40-41/mt to $455-462/mt in the past week.

Singapore’s LNG prices have risen by $13-16/mt. The rises came amid spot market demand from India for fertiliser plants, power generation and households, noted ANZ Bank’s Daniel Hynes. Japan and South Korea tend to import more gas for power generation during their summer months, and China has been active in the market, Hynes said.

By Konica Bhatt

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 16 June, 2026

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales drops by 6.8% on year in May 2026

4.55 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in May, down from 4.88 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2025, according to MPA data.

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales drops by 6.8% on year in May 2026

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port dropped by 6.8% on year in May 2026, according to data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

In total, 4.55 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,548,000 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in May, down from 4.88 million mt (4,878,100 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2025.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in May (against on year) recorded respectively 1.79 million mt (-5.3% from 1.89 million mt), 2.29 million mt (-6.5% from 2.45 million mt), zero (-100% from 1,200 mt), 600 (35.2% from 1,700 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales drops by 6.8% on year in May 2026

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in May, (against on year) recorded respectively 11,600 mt (-71.6% from 40,900 mt), 36,400 mt (-62.1% from 96,100 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February last year, recorded 12,800 mt (+573.7% from 1,900 mt). 

LNG and methanol sales were 70,300 mt (+56.2% from 45,000 mt) and zero (from zero) respectively. There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far since 2025.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 June, 2026

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