Preparations for the sea trials of Star of the Seas, RCI-Royal Caribbean International’s second ICON Class vessel, have advanced with the successful completion of her inaugural liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering/fueling operation at Meyer Turku's yard in Turku (Finland) on April 10th.
The LNG bunkering was executed by Coralius, an LNG bunker vessel that arrived from Norway for this specific task. Once positioned alongside Star of the Seas, the operation entailed a coordinated 12-hour fueling process, transferring the cryogenic LNG into the ship’s onboard storage tanks for the first time.
This milestone enables the commencement of testing for the ship’s dual-fuel propulsion systems using LNG, an environmentally cleaner fuel compared to traditional marine fuels. The ship's 6 dual-fuel engines, supplied by Wärtsilä, are now set to operate under real-world maritime conditions.
Sea trials for Star of the Seas are anticipated to begin in the coming weeks. The vessel, measuring 365 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 250,800 GT, is scheduled for delivery in August 2025. Upon entering service, it will operate week-long cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida USA.
Star of the Seas follows the Icon of the Seas, the first ship in the Icon Class, which was delivered in December 2023. Both vessels are part of Royal Caribbean’s initiative to expand its LNG-powered fleet, aiming to reduce emissions and promote sustainable cruising practices.