Axpo and Vitol launch LNG bunkering at Italy’s largest cruise port

Italian energy firms Axpo and Vitol have successfully conducted the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation at Italy's largest cruise port, the Port of Civitavecchia. This marks a significant step in expanding infrastructure and services for alternative maritime fuels in Italian ports, alongside Genoa and Naples, which have already implemented similar services.

The milestone operation involved Axpo Italia's Green Pearl, a 7,500 m³ LNG bunkering vessel, safely performing a ship-to-ship refuelling procedure at Civitavecchia's berth 18 on a Sunday morning. Green Pearl began operations in 2026 and specializes in ship-to-ship and ship-to-truck bunkering services at Italian ports. Simone Demarchi, CEO of Axpo Italia, expressed optimism about the rapid growth potential of the supply chain to meet the needs of major international cruise lines.

He emphasized that LNG is one of the most substantial and readily available solutions to support the shipping and cruise sectors' efforts to accelerate their decarbonisation journey. Vitol's Head of Small Scale LNG & LNG Bunkering, Stefan Dubbeldam, highlighted the crucial role that LNG and bio-LNG play in reducing emissions from bunkering.

Vitol is investing globally across the entire value chain, from upstream bio-LNG and LNG production and offtake to providing solutions for customers through its LNG Bunker Vessel fleet. This development follows the introduction of LNG ship-to-ship bunkering services at Genoa in late 2025 and Naples in May of this year. Axpo is dedicated to building a dedicated low-emission fuels supply chain for the maritime and heavy transport sectors, with Green Pearl being one of several vessels it has chartered for low-emission fuels.