The Dutch Port of Rotterdam is hosting a bunkering operation for Carnival Cruise Line’s LNG-powered Mardi Gras as the vessel continues its journey to the US.
To remind, Carnival officially took delivery of the first North American LNG-powered cruise ship from Finland’s Meyer Turku Shipyard last week.
Following departure from the yard, the 340 meters long cruise vessel made its first port call Tuesday morning in Rotterdam.
In the Dutch port, the vessel will refuel for the first time following delivery and depart Wednesday to Spain’s Barcelona, before making its eventual arrival in the US.
Mardi Gras was on Wednesday morning local time taking fuel from the Shell-chartered 3,000-cbm LNG London, its AIS data shows.
The LNG London, owned by a venture of Belgium’s Victrol and French Sogestran, has previously loaded LNG at the Gate terminal in Rotterdam.
Mardi Gras can operate for two weeks between refuelings, according to Carnival.
Carnival Cruise Line is a unit of the world’s largest cruise ship operator Carnival Corporation.
To remind, the US firm delayed the maiden voyage of the new vessel for several times, mostly due to construction delays at the yard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The cruise line now looks for the inaugural sailing of Mardi Gras on April 24, 2021. The vessel will work from the US Port Canaveral in Florida.