‘First’ LNG bunkering for cruise passenger ships wrapped up in Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific’s ‘first’ LNG bunkering for cruise passenger ships was completed at Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) on February 24, 2025, TotalEnergies Marine Fuels, the Singapore-based marine bunkering arm of Total, said.

As part of this pioneering operation, TotalEnergies Marine Fuels delivered the LNG via the bunker vessel Brassavola to Silversea’s 2023-delivered cruise ship Silver Nova.

Brassavola is managed by the UK-based V.Ships and owned by Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).

As informed, the LNG fueling was the culmination of months of detailed planning and coordination amongst multiple stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with industry safety standards. This enabled passenger movements and ship operations to continue smoothly throughout the bunkering.

“We are excited with this development given the growing number of dual-fuel LNG-powered vessels in the cruise industry. When we learnt of Silver Nova’s intention to bunker LNG, we took swift action to collaborate with TotalEnergies in bringing all parties together,” Jacqueline Tan, SCC CEO, commented.

“As this is the first LNG bunkering for passenger cruise ships in Singapore, we needed to ensure that we were operationally ready for it. There were stringent protocols to be complied with by all stakeholders, guided by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). This successful operation will pave the way for other LNG-powered cruise vessels to bunker at our HarbourFront Terminal.”

LNG can be used as a transition fuel that provides ‘a practical and realistic’ solution to the global maritime sector as it moves to decarbonize in line with the International Maritime Organisation’s targets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“This achievement underscores the maritime industry’s collective drive towards lower-emission solutions and the vital role of partnerships in accelerating the transition, and aligns with Singapore’s vision for a decarbonised maritime sector,” Louise Tricoire, TotalEnergies Senior Vice President, Aviation and Marine Fuels, said.

“As TotalEnergies pushes ahead in our ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 together with society, this feat strengthens our commitment to developing alternative fuels and solutions to help global shipping reduce emissions.”

The debut of LNG bunkering at SCC’s HarbourFront Terminal is an extension of the LNG bunkering services that have already been available in Singapore for harbourcraft and commercial vessels since 2016, and positions Singapore Cruise Centre to support LNG-powered passenger ships calling in the region. This marks a major milestone in Singapore’s sustainability goals for the tourism sector.

“The successful completion of the first simultaneous LNG bunkering operation for a cruise vessel in Singapore reflects our collective effort and commitment to uphold the highest standards of bunkering safety and efficiency. As the world’s leading bunkering hub, Singapore will continue to ensure safe and responsible bunkering operations while supporting the industry’s transition towards a multi-fuel future,” Chua Yeng Hian, Director, Marine Services, MPA, emphasized.

In related news, MPA opened a call last December for an Expression of Interest (EOI) for sea-based LNG reloading and supply of e/bio-methane as marine fuel in the Port of Singapore.

In 2024, sales of LNG increased from 0.11 million tonnes in 2023 to 0.46 million tonnes in 2024, according to MPA.

The port authority shared the expectation for the demand to grow further with a growing global fleet of LNG dual-fueled vessels and competitive LNG bunker prices.

• MPA: Alternative bunker fuel sales exceed 1 million tonnes in 2024