Gasum signs long-term supplier agreement with MSC Cruises

The Finnish state-owned energy company Gasum will supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable e-LNG to the cruise arm of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) starting in 2026.

PHOTO: MSC Cruises' LNG-powered cruise ship MSC Euribia. MSC Cruises

Synthetic LNG or e-LNG will be produced using hydrogen, generated by water electrolysis using renewable energy. It will then be converted into methane by adding carbon dioxide captured from non-fossil sources, said the Nordic gas supplier.

The agreement “demonstrates that e-LNG will be available to the maritime transport sector within a short timeframe,” said Mika Wiljanen, chief executive of Gasum.

The Swiss cruise line is planning to use e-LNG on its LNG-powered cruise ships. Since both e-LNG and bio-LNG have similar molecular compositions, they can be used on LNG-powered vessels without any modifications to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

MSC Cruises recently sourced around 400 mt of bio-LNG from Gasum for its LNG-powered cruise ship, MSC Euribia’s maiden voyage.

MSC Euribia completed the four-day voyage from the French Port of Saint-Nazaire to the Danish Port of Copenhagen, powered by bio-LNG, said the company.

By Konica Bhatt

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