This year, 20% of the cruise calls taking place in the Port of Barcelona will for ships that can be propelled with LNG, which confirms the success of the institution’s strategy of bringing the most environmentally friendly vessels to the Catalan capital. The LNG-powered cruise ships belong to the companies Aida, Costa, P&O and MSC. This last shipping company debuts in Barcelona with a ship of this type: the MSC World Europa.
Almost a decade ago, the Port of Barcelona opted for LNG as a transition fuel due to its benefits compared to traditional fuels: it emits between 15 and 20% less greenhouse gas emissions, reduces from 30 to 40% nitrogen oxide emissions and practically eliminates those of sulfur oxides and suspended particles.
Last February, the first LNG supply barge with a permanent base in Barcelona was launched, the first port in the Mediterranean to have this service. This barge, with a capacity of 5,000 m3 and 92 meters in length, gives the port an important competitive advantage in the LNG bunkering service and is a great step forward in the objective of reducing emissions.
Added to these less polluting vessels is the fact that 62% of the calls will be cruise ships less than 10 years old. In fact, nine of the cruise ships that will come to Barcelona this year are newly built vessels that will make their first call in the port. These are the MSC World Europa, the Norwegian Viva, the Explora I, the Scenic Eclipse II, the Seabourn Pursuit, the Seven Seas Grandeur, the Silver Nova, the Viking Saturn and the Vista.
Therefore, they are newer, more efficient and more sustainable ships. These are mostly cruise ships belonging to the premium and luxury segments and all of them, with the exception of the Norwegian Viva and the Explora I, have their base port in Barcelona.
Source: Port of Barcelona
