CIVITAVECCHIA. Operations concerning the first LNG refueling in the port carried out in Civitavecchia began shortly before 7:30 yesterday morning, August 9. The “refill” was ensured by the bunkering ship “Green Pearl” and involved the cruise ship “Silver Ray,” which was moored at dock 18 of the Lazio maritime terminal.
The operations of what can be defined as a historic event for the port of Civitavecchia were closely followed by the men of the Harbor Master’s Office, the Port Authority, the manager of the Roma Cruise Terminal, John Portelli, as well as, of course, the technical-nautical services provided by the Mooring Group, the Pilots, and the Lazio Tugboats who guided the docking operations of the vessel carrying liquefied natural gas.
The subsequent bunkering operations took place under maximum safety conditions and lasted for much of the afternoon. Yesterday’s operation will certainly not be the only LNG refueling for cruise ships carried out in the port of Civitavecchia. A second one has already been scheduled for October. The bunkering ship, as specified in a previous article, belongs to Axpo Italia, a company that is part of an important Swiss group engaged, among other things, not only in the LNG sectors but also in electrical storage.
The ship performing the bunkering operations, defined as “small scale LNG,” can hold up to 7,500 cubic meters of gas and is capable of refueling ferries and new generation ships. The environmental benefits are considered significant, given that on one hand LNG is a stable molecule that evaporates at room temperature without spills into the sea, and on the other hand it allows for the immediate reduction of pollutant emissions inside and near the port terminal.
“The first LNG refueling of a cruise ship marks an important milestone for the port of Civitavecchia and for the entire port system of Lazio.” Declares the president of the Central Northern Tyrrhenian Sea Port System Authority, Raffaele Latrofa, for whom with this service the port of Civitavecchia demonstrates its ability to accompany the evolution of shipping and cruising, offering increasingly innovative and sustainable infrastructures and services.
“It is a result – he adds – the fruit of collaboration between the Maritime Authority, AdSP, and port operators, who have worked together to guarantee the highest safety standards. We will continue to invest in innovation to make Civitavecchia an increasingly competitive, modern terminal and a protagonist in the energy transition of maritime transport. It is another important result and, above all, another step towards the port we want to build. With the completion of this first LNG bunkering operation for a cruise ship, Civitavecchia confirms itself among the most advanced Italian terminals in offering services for the new generation of ships and strengthens its strategic role in the development of increasingly sustainable cruising.”
