Royal Caribbean to conduct three-month bio bunker fuel trial on two cruise ships

Royal Caribbean Group on Tuesday (6 June) said it will set a new industry milestone in alternative bunker fuel use when Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex and Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas, set sail in Europe using sustainable biofuel to meet part of the ships’ fuel needs. 

The firm said the test will contribute critical data and research on the fuel’s capabilities and supply chain infrastructure needed to further the industry’s alternative fuel ambitions.  

During the three-month test, Celebrity Apex will depart from the Port of Rotterdam and Symphony of the Seas will depart from the Port of Barcelona, using a biofuel blend that reduces the ships’ carbon emissions. The biofuel blend is produced by purifying renewable raw materials like oils and fats and combining it with fuel oil to create an alternative marine fuel that is cleaner and more sustainable. 

“Biofuels will play an increasingly important role in achieving, not only our own, but the entire maritime sector’s decarbonisation goals in the short and medium term. We take great pride in continuing to push our industry forward in exploring innovative fuel solutions that reduce carbon impact and preserve the vibrancy of the oceans we sail,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. 

The cruise company planned to continue increasing the use of alternative lower carbon fuel to meet the needs of its ships across the fleet. After the trials are completed this summer, Royal Caribbean Group plans to scale up the use of alternative marine fuels, including biofuel bunkers, across upcoming European summer sailings. 

“With our sights set on a bright and sustainable future, we are committed to collaboration and innovation to ensure we deliver great vacation experiences, responsibly. With the completion of the trials our hope is to advance our ships’ ability to meaningfully reduce emissions and propel forward strategic partnerships with suppliers and ports to ensure there is sufficient availability of biofuel and infrastructures to make maritime energy transition a reality,” Liberty said.  

Manifold Times previously reported Royal Caribbean Group became the first major cruise line operator to sail a cruise ship from a U.S. port while using renewable diesel fuel to meet part of the ship’s fuel needs when Navigator of the Seas set sail from the Port of Los Angeles. Royal Caribbean Group partnered with World Fuel Services to supply the renewable fuel to Navigator of the Seas in the trial.

Related: WFS supplies renewable diesel bunkers to Royal Caribbean Group “Navigator of the Seas”

Photo credit: Royal Caribbean Group
Published: 7 June, 2023