Houston-based Eagle LNG Partners said it would fuel Royal Caribbean Group’s LNG-powered cruise ships under a new deal revealed on Tuesday.
Eagle LNG said in a statement that it would start bunkering the first ship, Icon of the Seas, in 2023.
Finland’s Meyer Turku yard is building this vessel for Royal Caribbean International, a unit of Royal Caribbean, along with two other sister ships.
Besides these vessels, US-based Royal Caribbean International has an Oasis Class ship that will feature LNG propulsion under construction at French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Silversea Cruises, an ultra-luxury brand of Royal Caribbean Group, also has LNG-powered vessels on order at Germany’s Meyer Werft.
Eagle LNG to deploy “multiple” vessels
As part of the deal with Royal Caribbean, Eagle LNG said it would debut “multiple purpose-built LNG vessels” equipped for marine bunkering and gas delivery throughout the Caribbean.
The LNG bunker supply vessels are optimized for cruise ship bunkering with 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 vibrant colors of the Caribbean islands,” it said.
Eagle LNG, owned by private equity firm Energy & Minerals Group, said it would source LNG from its liquefaction facilities in Jacksonville, Florida.
The facilities can load bunker vessels and LNG carriers for the Caribbean while maintaining economies of scale using modular liquefaction technology, it said.
In addition, the facilities would be capable of blending in renewable feedstocks to help customers achieve their carbon reduction goals, Eagle LNG said.