Milan, Italy | November 5, 2025 – In a landmark milestone for Italy’s maritime sector, Edison, Italian energy giant, and CMA CGM, the world’s top container shipping company, have successfully completed the country’s first ship-to-ship (STS) liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering for a container vessel. The historic operation took place in the port of Trieste, with Edison’s LNG carrier Ravenna Knutsen refueling CMA CGM’s LNG-powered container vessel, Salamanque, currently operating in the Mediterranean.
This achievement underscores Edison’s growing leadership in LNG bunkering and highlights CMA CGM’s ongoing commitment to decarbonizing the shipping industry. It marks the first time an LNG-powered container ship has been bunkered in Italy, following Edison’s successful inaugural LNG operation for a cruise ship in the Adriatic in 2024.
The collaboration between Edison and CMA CGM demonstrates the gradual adoption of LNG-powered fleets in Italian ports. LNG, as a transitional fuel, is emerging as a practical solution to cut carbon emissions and other pollutants in maritime transport. By integrating LNG into its operations, CMA CGM is paving the way for alternative fuels such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG, with potential reductions in CO₂ emissions of up to 85%.
Fabrizio Mattana, Executive Vice President of Gas Assets at Edison, emphasized the operational significance of this milestone:
“The first bunkering of a container ship in the Adriatic demonstrates the extreme operational flexibility achieved by Edison in recent years and our ability to open new market segments in Italy. We are proud of this achievement and see great potential in this sector, where the next step will be the growing contribution of BioGNL. The excellent collaboration with the Coast Guard of Trieste and the relevant authorities is certainly accelerating market development in this area.”
Edison’s LNG carrier, Ravenna Knutsen, in service since 2021, boasts a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters and is designed for maximum operational flexibility. Capable of adapting to various vessel types and port configurations, the carrier ensures safe, efficient, and versatile bunkering operations.
This flexibility was critical in successfully completing the STS LNG transfer to Salamanque, highlighting Edison’s ability to scale LNG operations for different sectors, including container shipping, cruise liners, and other maritime vessels.
LNG plays a vital role in reducing maritime emissions, including sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and CO₂, while remaining compliant with European ETS Maritime and FuelEU Maritime regulations, as well as IMO standards. Edison’s efforts align with Italy’s upcoming Mediterranean SECA (Sulfur Emission Control Area) regulations, effective May 1, 2025.
The operation also reinforces the container shipping sector’s strategic move toward sustainability, supporting CMA CGM’s fleet of dual-fuel LNG-powered containerships. By adopting cleaner fuels, CMA CGM continues to drive operational decarbonization and demonstrate industry leadership in energy transition.
The successful LNG bunkering in Trieste represents more than a single operation—it signals Italy’s readiness to embrace alternative fuels and highlights the growing collaboration between energy providers and shipping companies in Europe.
By combining Edison’s operational expertise and CMA CGM’s fleet innovation, the partnership establishes a robust foundation for expanding LNG bunkering across the Mediterranean and beyond.
As the maritime sector accelerates toward greener shipping solutions, milestones like this one pave the way for a more sustainable, low-carbon future—an essential step in meeting global climate targets and reshaping energy use in maritime logistics.
The CMA CGM Group, headquartered in Marseille, France, is the world’s third-largest shipping company, operating over 650 vessels and serving 420 ports across five continents, having carried over 23 million TEU containers in 2024. With a strong presence in air, land, and logistics solutions, CMA CGM employs 160,000 people globally. The company is committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050, actively integrating LNG and other low-carbon solutions in its fleet. Through its CMA CGM Foundation, the group has delivered 63,000 tons of humanitarian aid to 97 countries and supported over 550 educational projects worldwide.
Founded in Milan in 1883, Edison is Italy’s oldest energy operator and a leader in renewable and low-carbon energy production. Employing over 5,500 people, Edison operates across Europe in natural gas procurement and sales, sustainable mobility, and value-added energy services through Edison Energia and Edison Next. With a highly flexible and efficient power generation fleet totaling approximately 8 GW and a diversified LNG portfolio of 14 billion cubic meters per year, Edison continues to drive Italy’s energy transition, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
