TUI Cruises has announced a meaningful new step toward cleaner oceans, with new cruise ship ‘Mein Schiff Relax’ receiving its first-ever bio-LNG bunkering.
The milestone event took place in the port of Barcelona, with the vessel taking on 1,875 cubic metres of liquefied biomethane.
Liquified biomethane, otherwise known as BioLNG, is a renewable fuel produced from organic waste.
“We are consistently pursuing decarbonisation and see alternative fuels as a key lever for achieving our climate reduction targets,” Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises said in a statement.
The bio-LNG, certified under ISCC EU standards, was sourced from a plant in Barcelona.
Because bio-LNG is chemically identical to conventional LNG, it can be used immediately in the dual-fuel engines of ships like the Mein Schiff Relax, with no retrofitting required.
Compared to fossil fuels, TUI said the use of Bio-LNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% to 100%, depending on the origin of the organic materials.
The new German cruise ship, which made its maiden voyage in March, joins a growing number of vessels designed for low-emission travel, prepared to run on green methanol (when its scalable across many more ports).
TUI added that all newbuilds in the Mein Schiff fleet are to be equipped with dual-fuel engines, enabling them to run on lower-emission fuels like bio-LNG.
“Technological flexibility is crucial,” Meier added. “Our goal is to be able to switch to the lowest-emission option at any time – as soon as it is scalable and available
It is part of a four-pronged roadmap for TUI Cruises, the operator highlighted, with the plan comprising alternative fuels, green shore power, tech-driven energy efficiency, and better travel planning.
TUI Cruises says it aims to be ‘climate neutral’ by 2050 at the latest.
