TUI Cruises Expands Bio-LNG Use Across Fleet as Emission Savings Mount
Key Takeaways
- •TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff Flow has been bunkering bio-LNG in Barcelona since summer 2026, while its sister ship Mein Schiff Relax is operating its entire Northern Europe summer season exclusively on the renewable fuel.
- •The company reports that bio-LNG use has already saved approximately 26,000 tonnes of CO2e in 2026 and projects total savings of around 50,000 tonnes by year-end compared to conventional marine fuels.
- •Both Mein Schiff vessels are equipped with improved catalytic converters that reduce nitrogen oxide emissions during port operations and shore power connections that allow onboard power generation to be shut down while docked.
- •Bio-LNG supply remains limited compared to conventional marine fuels, but LNG dual-fuel engines give operators the flexibility to switch between fossil LNG and bio-LNG depending on availability.
- •The EU Emissions Trading System is increasingly pricing maritime emissions, creating regulatory and financial incentives for cruise operators to adopt alternative fuels and energy-efficient technologies.
Hamburg-based cruise operator TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Cruises, is expanding its use of bio-LNG across its fleet, reporting substantial emissions reductions as the company accelerates its transition away from conventional marine fuels.
The cruise line's LNG dual-fuel vessel Mein Schiff Flow has been regularly bunkering bio-LNG in Barcelona since this summer and will continue using the fuel beyond the upcoming winter season, the company announced in a LinkedIn post last week. Mein Schiff Flow entered service in June.
Its sister ship, Mein Schiff Relax, is currently operating its summer season in Northern Europe entirely on bio-LNG.
According to TUI Cruises, the use of bio-LNG has saved approximately 26,000 tonnes of CO2e so far in 2026 compared with conventional marine fuels. The company projects that figure will reach roughly 50,000 tonnes of CO2e by the end of the year.
Both vessels are equipped with improved catalytic converters designed to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions during port operations. They also feature shore power connections, allowing onboard power generation to be shut down while the ships are alongside at port — a capability that an increasing number of European ports are being equipped to support.
Bio-LNG, produced from organic waste and renewable feedstocks, offers a lower-carbon alternative to fossil LNG and conventional bunker fuels. When used as a marine fuel, it can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a well-to-wake basis, depending on the feedstock and production method. However, bio-LNG supply remains limited relative to conventional marine fuels, making consistent bunkering a logistical consideration for operators pursuing this pathway. LNG dual-fuel engines, like those on the Mein Schiff vessels, provide flexibility by allowing ships to switch between fossil LNG and bio-LNG depending on availability.
The shipping industry is under growing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, with regulations such as the EU Emissions Trading System increasingly pricing maritime emissions and prompting operators to invest in alternative fuels and energy-efficient technologies. Cruise operators face particular scrutiny given that ships frequently call at ports near populated coastal areas, and the sector has been comparatively slower than cargo shipping to adopt lower-carbon fuels at scale.
Source: Ship & Bunker