Costa Cruises marks first-ever LNG cruise ship refuelling in Dubai with Costa Smeralda

Costa Smeralda on Saturday successfully completed her first LNG refuelling in Dubai Harbour, the primary hub for Carnival Corporation in the Middle East, in the UAE’s emirate of Dubai.

The flagship of the Costa fleet and sistership to Costa Toscana is also the first cruise ship in the world to conduct Liquified Natural Gas bunkering operations at any Dubai port. The operation was made possible by the Dubai Port Authority’s cooperation with the oil and gas logistics company Monjasa.

The company’s Green Zeebrugge tanker ship filled Costa Smeralda’s three tanks with a total of around 3,000 cubic meters of LNG, providing around 7.5 weeks of cruising capacity to the vessel, which is currently operating its winter cruise season in the Arabian Gulf.

All three of the ship’s tanks are installed in specific protected spaces and built with cryogenic steel, which is specially insulated to maintain a constant temperature of -155 degrees to cool the LNG to its liquid state for use to power the ship’s engines.

The use of LNG in the cruise sector is currently the best readily available fuel to deliver immediate GHG emission reductions in the absence of market-ready zero-emission fuels for the maritime industry.

LNG is considered among the cleanest fossil fuels because – in addition to reducing direct carbon emissions by up to 20% – it almost entirely mitigates emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide and particulate matter. For this reason, it is seen as a viable step along the pathway to net-zero emissions for ship operations by 2050.

LNG has been adopted by all major cruise lines looking for a roadmap to future fuels and propulsion technologies like bio LNG (biomethane) and other renewable fuels when they become available.

Dubai’s introduction of LNG bunkering significantly enhances its appeal as a homeport for cruise lines, providing a competitive edge in the region’s maritime industry. By facilitating the use of cleaner fuels like LNG, Dubai aligns with the global push for sustainable and environmentally responsible cruising.

This strategic move not only supports the industry’s decarbonisation goals but also underscores Dubai’s commitment to adapting its port infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of cruise operators.

With the ability to refuel LNG-powered ships, Dubai is able to meet the needs of the most advanced cruise ships in the global fleet, strengthening its position as a premier cruise hub, and catering to the growing demand for eco-friendly travel options among passengers and cruise lines alike.

Costa Smeralda’s use of LNG is one of several sustainability innovations featured onboard. The entire daily supply of fresh water for the ship is met by transforming sea water using desalinators, much like the UAE’s own fresh water supply.

Energy consumption is minimised thanks to an intelligent energy efficiency system based on optimisation and conversion of resources to improve onboard energy-saving technologies that deliver an average of 5-6% fuel savings per ship, while 100% separate waste collection and recycling of materials such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminium are carried out on board.

This recycling operation forms part of an integrated approach aimed at implementing circular economy projects.

“Costa, as part of Carnival Corporation, is committed to leading the way in sustainable cruising,” said Giuseppe Carino, Sea-Land Experience Operations Senior Vice President, Costa Cruises. “After being the first to introduce LNG in cruises, together with our sister brand AIDA Cruises, we are now also the first cruise line to use this technology in Dubai.”

Costa Smeralda arrived in Dubai on December 21st at the end of a repositioning cruise from the Mediterranean that took her around the southern tip of Africa. The ship will remain in the Arabian Gulf until the end of February 2025, offering roundtrip one-week cruises from Dubai visiting Muscat (Oman), Doha (Qatar), and Abu Dhabi.