Eagle LNG Partners has partnered with the Royal Caribbean Group to provide LNG bunkering for its LNG fuelled ships.
This includes the first ship due in service in 2023 – ’Icon of the Seas’ – the inaugural ship of the ’Icon’ class for the Royal Caribbean International brand.
Eagle LNG will bring into service multiple purpose-built LNG vessels equipped for marine bunkering and gas delivery throughout the Caribbean.
The LNG bunker supply vessels will be optimised for cruise ship bunkering with the latest distance keeping, hose handling, product conditioning and mooring solutions.
Given the beauty of the countries and islands where they will operate, the vessels will maintain the highest possible environmental ship index (ESI) score, fuel efficiency, versatility and cargo handling capabilities, while incorporating design elements from the colours of the Caribbean islands.
“Eagle LNG is honoured to have been chosen by Royal Caribbean Group as its LNG bunker partner. Our shared vision for a sustainable future, including achieving net zero emissions by 2050, creates a strong foundation for a long-term partnership,” said Matthew Fisher, Eagle LNG’s Vice President of Corporate Development and Sustainability.
“By introducing these purpose-built bunkering ships for the Caribbean, we are setting that vision into motion, while also creating opportunities for island nations to access low-cost, secure, US produced natural gas for power generation,” he said.
LNG will be sourced from Eagle LNG’s liquefaction facilities at Jacksonville, Florida.
These facilities were designed to load bunker vessels and LNGCs for the Caribbean, while maintaining economies of scale using modular liquefaction technology.
It will be possible to blend in renewable feedstocks to help customers achieve their carbon reduction goals, the company said.