Mabanaft to supply TUI Cruises with green methanol bunker fuel

Hamburg-based energy company Mabanaft on Thursday (25 January) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with cruise operator TUI Cruises to supply green methanol bunker fuel in the future. 

The cooperation between Mabanaft and TUI Cruises kicks off with a methanol delivery for the Mein Schiff 7. With the commissioning of Mein Schiff 7 in 2024, TUI Cruises is taking into operation a cruise ship that can also run on methanol, or green methanol in perspective. 

This initiative creates opportunity for the ship’s propulsion system decarbonisation. Over the next few years, TUI Cruises intends to add further dual-fuel methanol-ready cruise ships to its fleet in Germany.

As part of the agreement, Mabanaft is set to cover TUI Cruises’ methanol needs in Northern Germany – and potentially in other European ports in the future. The company intends to focus on a gradual transition to synthetic e-methanol.

The Mabanaft Group, among other suppliers of transportation fuels and operator of tank terminals in Germany, Denmark and Hungary, intends to supplement its range of marine fuels with methanol and other hydrogen derivatives from regenerative sources to help its customers speed up their de-fossilisation efforts. In order to supply TUI Cruises, among others, with methanol bunker fuel, Mabanaft is also planning the necessary storage and bunkering infrastructure in Hamburg and potentially other ports.

Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President New Energy, Supply & Infrastructure at Mabanaft, said: “Green methanol is expected to play an immediate role in the decarbonisation of shipping – methanol dual-fuel-engines are readily available and existing fuelling infrastructure can be repurposed to deliver methanol to our customers.”

“From biofuels, to hydrogen, ammonia and methanol – we want to make all these transition options available to the shipping industry. For us, this agreement with TUI Cruises is an important step towards providing an integrated methanol fuel solution.”

Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, said: “Climate-neutral cruises are a question of the appropriate technologies and long-term strategies. We have both. On the one hand, we are continuously equipping our fleets with innovative propulsion systems, on the other hand, we are securing their supply of alternative fuels – through cooperation with partners such as Mabanaft. This is how we will achieve our goals.”

Photo credit: Mabanaft
Published: 26 January, 2024