Carnival signs deal to operate first fully gas-powered cruise ships
Carnival Cruise Line has signed a fuel supply agreement with Shell for the first cruise ships in North America to be fully powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The deal with Shell is for two new ships arriving in 2020 and 2022, which will be powered by liquefied natural gas, the cleanest burning fossil fuel, at port as well as at sea, via Shell’s ocean-going LNG Bunker Barge.
The ships will be Carnival’s largest, carrying about 5,200 guests each at full capacity.
"Carnival Cruise Line is strongly committed to leading the way in the implementation of technology innovations to help protect the environment and support our aggressive sustainability goals," said CCL president Christine Duffy.
"Our two new cruise ships entering service in 2020 and 2022 will not only be the largest and most technologically advanced in our fleet but will break extraordinary new ground as the first LNG-powered cruise ships in North America."
The ships will be based in North America and will re-fuel at ports along the southern US east coast.
Shell has already inked a deal with fellow Carnival Corp cruise brand Aida Cruises to supply AIDAprima with LNG while docked in port.
"This agreement is a significant stepping stone in our relationship with Carnival Corporation building upon our previous LNG marine fuel supply agreements in Europe. It also marks a milestone as we continue to establish the marine LNG fuel market in the US as a credible part of the global marine fuel mix," said Tahir Faruqui, president, Shell LNG North America.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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