Seaspan Energy completes first LNG bunkering operation of cruise ship in Vancouver

Seaspan Energy on Friday (9 May) said it completed the first-ever LNG bunkering operation of a cruise ship at the Port of Vancouver. 

Silversea’s Silver Nova received LNG bunker fuel from Seaspan Energy’s bunker vessel Seaspan Garibaldi as it prepared to sail to Alaska.

LNG is the first alternative fuel available in significant quantities for the international maritime sector that has been approved for local bunkering—or ship refuelling services— with deep-sea vessels now able to refuel with it at the Port of Vancouver. 

“We all have a crucial role to play enabling the energy transition and as a port authority our focus is on putting the infrastructure and processes in place to ensure visiting ships can move beyond traditional marine fuels and embrace alternative fuels like LNG,” said Captain Shri Madiwal, Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. 

“LNG is one of the most widely adopted alternative marine fuels and the first approved for bunkering at the Port of Vancouver—its introduction is a vital step forward as early planning gets underway to safely introduce other alternative fuels like ammonia and methanol.”

While biofuels have been available for bunkering at the port for several years in limited quantities, LNG represents the arrival of the first alternative to traditional diesel-based fuels and its introduction will support work towards introducing further alternative fuels such as ammonia. 

Seaspan Energy became the first accredited supplier of LNG for ships calling the Port of Vancouver last fall, and currently operates three ship-to-ship LNG bunkering vessels on North America’s West Coast. The company has successfully completed several LNG bunkering operations for container, car carrier and bulk cargo ships in Vancouver already this year, as shippers embrace the availability of the alternative fuel.

“We are proud to play a key role in advancing the shift to alternative marine fuels in North America’s fourth largest port and look to become a major centre for LNG bunkering,” said Harly Penner, President of Seaspan Energy. 

“Providing dependable LNG bunkering services  from Vancouver represents a major step forward. This first LNG bunkering of a cruise ship at the port is a milestone we are excited to share with the Port of Vancouver, as it signals meaningful progress in the industry’s decarbonisation efforts.”

Related: Seaspan Energy becomes first accredited Vancouver LNG bunkering supplier

Photo credit: Seaspan Energy
Published: 14 May, 2025