Seaspan completes first LNG bunkering for a cruise ship in Vancouver, B.C.

Following the first-ever ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in Canada in March, Seaspan Energy and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority have achieved yet another first by refueling the Silver Nova cruise ship operated by Silversea with liquified natural gas.

A milestone for the energy transition

As the first alternative fuel available on a large scale at the Port of Vancouver, LNG is serving a crucial role in maritime decarbonization by significantly reducing polluting air emissions.

Accredited as an LNG supplier at the port since last fall, Seaspan Energy currently operates three active bunkering vessels on the West Coast and has already completed several operations for bulk carriers, ro-ro vessels and container ships. Including cruise ships in this bunkering service marks an important step towards introducing other alternative fuels, such as methanol and ammonia.

Cruising toward a greener future

Vancouver’s cruise sector is at the forefront of port efforts to create sustainable operations that protect the environment. In addition to pioneering shore power technology, the sector is actively engaged in environmental initiatives such as the port’s ECHO program, which coordinates voluntary vessel slowdowns to reduce noise and other potential impacts on at-risk whales, and the port’s EcoAction financial incentives that promote the use of cleaner technologies.

The latest efforts by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Seaspan Energy, a subsidiary of Seaspan Marine, are part of a broader strategy that includes developing alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure in line with the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonization goals. These Green Marine participants are showing yet again why they are at the forefront of setting the standards for responsible energy transition.