Mein Schiff Relax Becomes First Cruise Ship In Barcelona To Receive BioLNG

Mein Schiff Relax became the first bioLNG supply to a cruise ship from a barge at the Barcelona Port.

Barge Haugesund Knutsen supplied 1,875 cu mtr of bioLNG from the nearby regasification plant operated by Enagás to Mein Schiff Relax, the first LNG-powered vessel of TUI Cruises.

BioLNG, or liquefied biomethane, is said to be an eco-friendly fuel by the European Commission due to its production process from organic waste.

By using this waste, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 70 to 100%, based on the origin of the organic matter, throughout the production and consumption cycle.

BioLNG has the same features as fossil LNG, so it can be supplied to any vessel which can operate with LNG.

Last March, the shipping company Balearia took bioLNG in Barcelona, but the operation was carried out by a tanker truck, unlike the ship-o-ship operation to Mein Schiff Relax.

Supply from a barge significantly speeds up loading, increasing the amount of fuel loaded by over 15 times.

This marks a key milestone in delivering TUI Cruises’ Climate Protection Road Map.

The cruise line aims to become climate-neutral by 2050 and is following a detailed plan based on 4 main levers: increased use of alternative fuels, green shore power, energy efficiency and optimised voyage planning.

Barcelona Port said that this operation to supply Mein Chiff Relax could be described as Kilometre Zero as it was carried out entirely at the port with Enagas’ regasification plant situated on the port’s Energy Wharf.

The Enagas Terminal recently became certified per the environmental, social and traceability criteria established by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification of the European Union (ISCC EU) and the European Commission, allowing the fuel supplied to be certified as bioLNG.