Total will supply ~45,000 tons of LNG annually for MSC Cruises’ new LNG-powered ships.
LNG bunkering is due to take place in Marseille, France.
According to Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, the agreement represented a further step in their ongoing journey towards continuously reducing their environmental footprint.
“As we prepare to launch our first of three upcoming LNG-powered cruise ships in 2022, through this key agreement we have now secured the refueling support for our latest-generation and most environmentally advanced ships in the Mediterranean.”
Total will also bunker the cruise line's LNG-powered ships sailing on Mediterranean routes via ship-to-ship transfer, using its 2nd LNG bunker ship, currently under construction. The ship will meet the highest technical and environmental standards, using LNG as propulsion fuel and integrating complete re-liquefaction of boil-off gas.
By 2022, Total is expected to operate a pair of 18,600m3 LNG bunkering ships in Rotterdam and Marseille as well as share the use of a 3rd bunker ship in Singapore. In February, the company received a license from MPA (Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore) to supply LNG in the Port of Singapore from 2022.