bioLNG is a fuel that combines low carbon footprint with technical maturity and immediate adoption by existing LNG fleets. Liquefied biomethane, as it is fully named, is produced from organic waste and offers up to 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. TUI Cruises’ “Mein Schiff Relax” is a characteristic example of the adoption of this fuel.
On July 26, the port of Barcelona hosted the first refueling of a cruise ship with bioLNG directly from a floating tanker. The “Mein Schiff Relax,” the first ship of the InTUItion class, was refueled with 1,875 cubic meters of bioLNG by the “Haugesund Knutsen,” a floating tanker chartered by Shell and owned by Knutsen Scale Gas. The fuel supply originated from Enagás’ regasification station, at the energy dock of the port of Barcelona.
bioLNG has the same chemical and physical behavior as conventional fossil LNG, making it technically compatible with any ship equipped with LNG infrastructure. This property allows for a smooth and immediate transition to a fuel with a much lower footprint, without requiring modifications or new investments in propulsion systems. In the case of the “Mein Schiff Relax,” the ship is already designed to operate almost exclusively with LNG and has dual-fuel engines, while the company’s next ships, such as the “Mein Schiff 7,” are equipped to use even more innovative fuels, such as green methanol.
Compared to the previous bioLNG refueling operation carried out at the same port by truck, the use of a floating tanker multiplies the speed and volume of fuel supply. Enagás, the fuel provider, is certified according to the ISCC EU system.
