Total and MSC Cruises ink LNG fuel supply agreement

In addition to LNG-fueled engines, MSC Cruises’ LNG powered vessels will feature a 50-kilowatt, LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cell technology. [Image: MSC Cruises]

In a ceremony held in Paris on March 25, Total and MSC Cruises confirmed an agreement covering the annual supply of approximately 45,000 tons of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to MSC Cruises’ upcoming LNG-powered cruise ships at the port of Marseille.

This agreement underlines a strong collaborative action across the French maritime industry and the excellence of its value chain, from shipbuilding to the supply of cleaner marine fuels, and the involvement of local port authorities to enable the vessels’ safe operatorship.

“This agreement represents a further step in our ongoing journey towards continuously reducing our environmental footprint, for which LNG is currently a crucial component,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman.

Total will continue to step up investments in LNG bunkering to ultimately reach its target of serving more than 10% of the global market,” said Alexis Vovk, president, marketing & services at Total. “By doing so, we will continue to accompany the energy transition of the shipping industry and the reduction of carbon emissions of our customers, in line with our Climate ambition to get to Net Zero by 2050, together with society.”

The signature of this agreement has been placed under the high patronage of Annick Girardin, French Minister for Marine Affairs.

It benefits from the direct support of the Minister, who has declared: “I welcome this agreement between MSC Cruises and Total. This is a strong commitment to the environment, which demonstrates that when major economic players commit to the ecological transition, they can access new levers for economic development. This is also what maritime France is all about! This agreement also illustrates France’s full potential for competitiveness and attractiveness. In line with the Fontenoy maritime forum, I wish that these links between shipowners, energy companies, ports and shipyards will continue to develop, in line with the sustainable development goals.”

In addition to LNG-fueled engines, MSC Cruises’ LNG powered vessels will bring. a range of environmental innovations to the market. Among these will be a 50-kilowatt, LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cell technology.

Total will bunker MSC Cruises’ LNG-powered cruise ships sailing on Mediterranean routes by ship-to-ship transfer, using its second LNG bunker vessel currently under construction. This vessel will itself use LNG as propulsion fuel, integrating a complete re-liquefaction of the boil-off gas.

By 2022, Total will operate two 18,600-cubic-meter LNG bunkering vessels, one each in Rotterdam and Marseille, and share the use of a third bunker vessel in Singapore, where Total now holds an LNG bunkering license.