The Port of Barcelona on Wednesday (5 February) said 229,750 cubic metre (m³) of LNG were supplied at the port in 2024, achieving an increase of 60.5% compared to 2023.

The Port said the achievement placed Barcelona as the leading port in the state - with 40% of the total m³ of LNG supplied - and one of the first in Europe in LNG bunkering. 

In 2024, a total of 491 LNG bunkering operations were carried out for ships, of which 402 were via tankers trucks, with 45,427 m³ supplied, and 89 were ship-to-ship (STS) transfers from barges, with 184,324 m³ delivered. 

Of the 8,398 ship calls at the Port of Barcelona during 2024, 822 calls were from ships using LNG, about 10% of the total calls at the port.  

The ships that have received LNG bunker fuel in Barcelona have been mainly cruises and ferries, reaching close to 23% and 19% of the calls of both types of ships and contributing to a reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of 20% for cruises and 18% for ferries. 

The top cruise companies have incorporated LNG-powered ships into their fleets, a good number of which operate regularly in Barcelona. During 2024, a total of 1,664,712 cruise passengers (45.5%) passed through Barcelona on board an LNG-powered cruise ship.

The increase in bunker supply of 60.5% has been possible due to several factors: 

• the presence of the LNG supply barge based in the Haugesund port Knutsen, from the company Knutsen-Scale Gas,
• the commitment of the shipping company Baleària to LNG, provided by several tanker trucks at the same time,
• and the incorporation of new types of ships that use LNG in the port, notably car carriers. The Lake Herman ship, from Japanese shipping company MOL, was the first vehicle carrier to carry out LNG bunkering at the Port of Barcelona, ​​followed by four more ships of the same service, to which two new ships have been added at the beginning of 2025. 

During 2024, the fast ferry Margarita Salas, powered by dual LNG engines, was also added. Operated by Baleària, this ship began operating last June, connecting Barcelona with Mallorca and Menorca at high speed. This new connection reinforces the commitment to integrating LNG into passenger transport and significantly reduces the emissions generated on this route.

The Port of Barcelona said it will continue to facilitate the introduction of LNG with measures such as administrative simplification to facilitate the authorisation of LNG bunkering operations; and the availability of generic risk analyses to be able to expand these operations to other types of ships. 

During 2025, new risk analyses will be carried out to allow the supply of LNG to container ships, for which the port has already received interest from supply operators.

Photo credit: Port of Barcelona
Published: 7 February, 2025

Commodity pricing provider General Index recently announced its partnership with online bunker trading platform XMAR to integrate its marine fuel pricing data into their platform.

General Index said the partnership aims to provide XMAR's users with accurate and timely bunker pricing information, enhancing their decision-making processes in the maritime industry.

“Our comprehensive bunker pricing data covers various fuel types and global ports, ensuring that XMAR's users have access to the most relevant and up-to-date information,” it added. 

By incorporating its data into XMAR's platform, users can benefit from:

• Real-time Pricing: Stay informed with the latest bunker prices across key ports worldwide.
• Market Transparency: Gain insights into market trends and price fluctuations to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Customised Data Feeds: Access tailored data solutions that meet specific operational needs.

This integration will empower maritime professionals to optimise their operations and fuel procurement strategies.

“At General Index, we are committed to delivering high-quality, transparent, and independent pricing data to support the maritime industry's evolving needs.

Photo credit: General Index
Published: 7 February, 2025

Viking Line, Port of Turku and Ports of Stockholm on Thursday (6 February) said they have now laid a solid foundation for a green shipping corridor project and developed a clear plan for a common way forward.

This comes after working together for a year on the project which aims to establish a green, fossil-free shipping corridor between Stockholm and Turku. 

On the anniversary on 6 February, the parties and a large number of invited stakeholders gathered for an open seminar in Turku, Finland. Results, experiences, challenges and opportunities were discussed based on the common goal of establishing a green maritime corridor between Stockholm and Turku by 2035.

Magdalena Bosson, CEO Ports of Stockholm, said: “We are very pleased with the cooperation and the work done during the first year.”

“We have been investing in onshore power supply infrastructure for ships for many years and Viking Line is one of the pioneers. Now we are further sharpening our goals together with the other parties to establish a fossil-free shipping corridor between Stockholm and Turku.”

Jan Hanses, CEO Viking Line, said: “We are proud to be part of this important co-operation project for a cleaner Baltic Sea. Our most significant investment so far is to offer all our passengers and freight customers biofuel for transport between Stockholm and Turku, reducing emissions for their journeys by 90%.”

“In addition, a possible battery installation and Elogrids, which reduces energy consumption, are important elements of our work in the coming years.”

Elogrids is a grid system installed on the ship's hull to reduce resistance and improve fuel efficiency. It optimises water flow and reduces turbulence, resulting in lower energy consumption.

Erik Söderholm, CEO Port of Turku, said: “A green shipping corridor gives us the opportunity to promote sustainable development and reduce the environmental impact of shipping.”

“During the past year, we have started more detailed planning of measures related to the green shipping corridor, such as updating our carbon footprint calculation and preparing for the development of charging stations for heavy traffic.”

During the first year, the parties have identified and prioritised the most important goals and measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in shipping. 

A clear project plan with activities has been developed, including:

Viking Line

• Pre-study of battery installation on Viking Grace and Viking Glory
• Installing Elogrids on the vessels
• Increase sales of biogas supplements for transport between Stockholm and Turku

Port of Turku

• Study and pilot project for onshore power supply at the quay
• Zero emissions from Viking Line vessels at berth
• Guidelines and incentives for port operators for zero emissions
• In collaboration with external actors, develop concepts that link the green shipping corridor with sustainable transport from and to the port on land
• Opportunity for shipping companies to bunker sustainable fuels

Ports of Stockholm

• Zero emissions from Viking Line vessels at the quayside
• In collaboration with external actors, develop concepts that link the green shipping corridor with sustainable transport from and to the port on land
• Opportunity for shipping companies to bunker fossil-free fuels

Photo credit: Ports of Stockholm
Published: 7 February, 2025