The Port of Galveston has become one of the first US ports to offer liquefied natural gas (LNG) to ships docking in the port.
Taking advantage of this offering, the newly built Carnival Jubilee was recently fueled for the first time with LNG at the port before setting sail on December 30, 2023.
“Providing LNG fuel at the port opens opportunities for the Port of Galveston to attract newer, technologically advanced cruise and cargo ships,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO. “As LNG continues to gain traction globally as a commercial marine fuel, the port and the community will reap environmental and economic benefits.”
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, LNG fuel is one of the best alternatives available for cruise ships looking to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. By using LNG, sulfur emissions are reduced by 99%, and nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by 85%.
To manufacture LNG, natural gas is purified and super-cooled to reduce its volume and make it easier to use. By removing sulfur during the liquefaction process, no sulfur compounds are emitted when the LNG is used as a fuel, allowing it to emit the least amount of CO2 of all natural gases when combusted.
LNG utilization as an alternative marine fuel is being adopted for a wide range of vessels alongside cruise ships, including container vessels, crude and chemical tankers, passenger ferries, car carriers, and fishing vessels.
To fuel the ship with LNG, Carnival Jubilee worked with two companies – Stabilis Solutions, which manufactured and delivered the LNG, and Seaside LNG, which loaded the LNG using specially equipped barges.
Several entities were also involved during the approval and preparation process, including the US Coast Guard, the Galveston Wharves, the Galveston Fire and Police Departments, and Carnival Cruise Lines.
