Costa Smeralda First Cruise Ship to Bunker LNG in Dubai

Costa Cruises announced that the Costa Smeralda, while operating her winter cruise season in the United Arab Emirates, has become the first cruise ship to refuel with LNG (liquefied natural gas) in Dubai.

In a press release, Costa Cruises credited the milestone to the collaboration between Monjasa, the logistics provider, and the Dubai Port Authority.

The refueling process involved the tanker ship Green Zeebrugge, which filled the Costa Smeralda's three LNG tanks with a total of 3,000 cubic meters of LNG. These tanks are built with "cryogenic" steel, a specially insulated material designed to maintain the LNG at a constant temperature of -155 degrees Celsius, ensuring its liquid state for use as fuel.

According to Costa Cruises, a full LNG refueling enables the Smeralda to operate for approximately 2.5 weeks.

“Costa, as part of Carnival Corporation, is committed to leading the way in sustainable cruising,” said Giuseppe Carino, senior vice president of sea-land experience operations at Costa Cruises.

“After being the first to introduce LNG in cruises, together with our sister brand AIDA Cruises, we are now also the first cruise line to use this technology in Dubai,” Carino added. “We are also advancing our efforts with shore power technology, biofuels, and alternative energy solutions.”

The Costa Smeralda arrived in Dubai on December 21, 2024, following a repositioning cruise that circumnavigated Africa from the Mediterranean.

The ship will remain in the region until late February 2025, offering one-week cruises departing from Dubai. The itinerary includes stops in Muscat (Oman), Doha (Qatar), and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

On March 1, 2025, the Smeralda is set to depart Dubai for a 37-day return journey to the Mediterranean. This voyage includes calls in Oman, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, Corsica (France), and concludes in Genoa on April 7, 2025.