May 19, 2025. The first-ever cruise ship has filled up with an alternative fuel at the Port of Vancouver, receiving liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Seaspan Energy’s LNG bunker vessel Seaspan Garibaldi as it prepares to sail to Alaska.
LNG is the first alternative fuel available in significant quantities for the international maritime sector that has been approved for local bunkering—or ship refueling services—with deep-sea vessels now able to refuel with it at the Port of Vancouver. The adoption of LNG bunkering at the port marks an important milestone as the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority supports industry efforts to enhance sustainability and reduce emissions.
“We all have a crucial role to play enabling the energy transition and as a port authority our focus is on putting the infrastructure and processes in place to ensure visiting ships can move beyond traditional marine fuels and embrace alternative fuels like LNG,” said Captain Shri Madiwal, Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “LNG is one of the most widely adopted alternative marine fuels and the first approved for bunkering at the Port of Vancouver—its introduction is a vital step forward as early planning gets underway to safely introduce other alternative fuels like ammonia and methanol.”
The transition away from traditional marine fuels, such as heavy fuel oil and marine diesel, to cleaner fuels such as LNG is key to reducing emissions and meeting decarbonization targets at the Port of Vancouver and worldwide. Offering services like alternative fuel bunkering and shore power infrastructure in Vancouver supports the goals of visiting cruise lines, as they actively work towards reducing their emissions and reaching net zero by 2050, in line with International Maritime Organization targets.