May 24, 2026. Axpo has successfully completed the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering of a cruise ship in Naples, Italy. Ship-to-ship refueling of the Sun Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation – the world’s largest cruise operator – took place today. The operation is a significant milestone in the development of infrastructure and services for alternative marine fuels in Italy, supporting the transition to lower emission fuels.
Axpo is expanding its small-scale LNG infrastructure and services in the Mediterranean region.
Italy’s LNG imports are growing fast, reflecting the maritime sector’s efforts to reduce emissions.
The ship-to-ship refueling operation, carried out on May 24 at the Port of Naples, was performed using the Green Zeebrugge LNG bunkering tanker, previously deployed in the Port of Genoa. The transfer of LNG to the cruise ship Sun Princess represents a key step in the expansion of LNG in the maritime sector, thereby supporting emission reduction efforts within this industry.
The successful operation is the result of close collaboration between Axpo, the Port System Authority of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea, Terminal Napoli, and the Port Authority of Naples, which coordinated operational and regulatory activities related to the bunkering operation.
