BioLNG bunker operation completed in Italy

Axpo and Italian ferry operator GNV, part of the MSC Group, worked with the Maritime Authority of Genoa to complete Italy’s first ship-to-ship bioLNG bunkering operation at the Port of Genoa, refuelling the LNG-powered ropax vessel GNV Virgo.

GNV Virgo is the first Italian long-distance ropax vessel powered by liquefied natural gas to be employed on a regular route.

Using bioLNG produced from organic waste materials offers a lower overall environmental impact than traditional fuels and has a role in the energy transition. When powered by bioLNG, GNV Virgo will operate in line with Europe’s decarbonisation aim of carbon neutrality by 2050.

GNV chief executive officer Matteo Catani said this moment represented “a true turning point for GNV in reducing the environmental impact of our fleet”.

He said introducing LNG into daily operations not only lowers emissions, but also gives the company “hands-on experience with the technologies that will shape the future of European maritime transport, confirming our commitment to increasingly sustainable and competitive shipping”.

Mr Catani acknowledged constraints on the wider uptake of bioLNG and said GNV is working to make the use of bioLNG a structural solution for its operations, but current fuel availability remains limited and requires “significant investments, as well as the development of a supply chain capable of ensuring stable, large-scale provision”.

He added costs are still high, the quantity available on the market does not yet meet growing demand and it is “a complex journey that requires the commitment and collaboration of all stakeholders in the sector”.

The six-hour bunkering operation was conducted in line with current safety regulations and international guidelines, with 500 m³ of bioLNG transferred to GNV Virgo, which the companies said is enough to fuel the vessel’s return voyage to Palermo.

Axpo, GNV and the local authorities said their collaboration during the operation confirms the Port of Genoa’s capability to handle complex technological developments with environmental benefits.

Introducing GNV Virgo on the Genoa-Palermo route is expected to reduce the environmental impact of ferry operations in both ports.

Axpo head of small-scale LNG Daniele Corti linked the operation to the company’s wider strategy, “This operation demonstrates our determination to pioneer sustainable LNG solutions across the Mediterranean market. BioLNG is essential to achieving global emissions targets while advancing a cleaner, more sustainable future for marine logistics.”