Page 36: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Jan/Feb 2019)

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LNG CRUISE LOGISTICS

Images: Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation has a strategic partnership with Shell for reliable and who really understand their side of the business.” its own LNG supply needs and is continuing to expand its glob- Another difference: more time is needed to fll the tanks. “It al bunkering footprint. “We now have ship-to-ship bunkering is taking longer. We envisage that over time we’ll be able to in Eemshaven, Rotterdam, and Tenerife,” said Strang. “We’re condense that down a bit, but even so, it would still take longer awaiting fnal approvals from Barcelona, and we’re working than bunkering with traditional HFO because of the nature of with Port Canaveral and Port Miami to get approvals there. AID- these vessels and the volume of LNG you have going onboard.”

Anova operates in the Canary Islands in the winter and shifts Compared to HFO and MGO refueling, there are also dif- to the Western Mediterranean in April. Costa Smeralda will be ferences in terms of the location of bunkering operations and delivered in October and will operate year-round in the West- by extension, safety concerns of port authorities. “One of the ern Mediterranean, bunkering in Barcelona, and we also have unique challenges within the cruise industry is that you’re of- approval to bunker in Marseille if we need to. Before P&O’s ten going into port right in the center of cities. You’re doing

Iona delivers, we’re working with the port of Southampton to bunkering in locations where perhaps they have not done it develop their LNG bunkering capability. And when the Carnival previously. So, safety is always the frst priority at all times.

Cruise Lines ships deliver, starting with the Mardi Gras in 2020, “Let’s be clear: LNG is very safe,” Strang underscored. we’ll be ready with LNG supply in Port Canaveral.” “LNG-fueled vessels have been operating for 50-plus years

Refueling of cruise ships with LNG differs from refueling and have an excellent safety record, and you could argue that with HFO or MGO, for several reasons. First, it requires a fxed LNG is safer than conventional fuels, which could be con- location for each itinerary. “Typically, we may bunker LNG sidered more volatile. There have been port authorities that every 10 days,” said Strang. “With conventional fuels you can have had an initial reaction to LNG bunkering of: ‘Oh, not bunker in many, many ports. With LNG you have to develop a in my port’. But after we’ve explained it to them and brought supply chain and get specifc approvals, so must you bunker in in the professionals and demonstrated the level of safety and fxed locations. And because everything has to come together care that’s being taken, we have not had any issues [with port at the right time at the right date [at these fxed locations], it’s authorities refusing LNG bunkering]. And clearly, with the en- very important that you choose your partners very carefully and vironmental advantages you have from clean emissions in the partner with people you can work closely with who are very port, it’s a win-win for both sides.” 36 Maritime Logistics Professional January/February 2019 | |