Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 7, Italian energy company Edison and French shipping firm CMA CGM have completed Italy’s first ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunkering of a containership. The operation took place in the port of Trieste, where Edison’s 30,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier Ravenna Knutsen refueled the CMA CGM Salamanque, an LNG-powered container vessel operating in the Mediterranean.

This milestone supports the gradual expansion of LNG-powered fleets at Italian ports and follows Edison’s first LNG bunkering in the Adriatic for a cruise ship in 2024. The collaboration highlights the potential for low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, aligning with broader efforts to reduce emissions in shipping.

CMA CGM operates a fleet of dual-fuel LNG-powered containerships, achieving carbon emission reductions of up to 85% through the use of LNG as an alternative fuel. The company continues to explore low-carbon solutions, including BioLNG, to further reduce environmental impact in shipping operations.

Fabrizio Mattana, Executive Vice President of Gas Assets at Edison, said: “The first bunkering of a container ship in the Adriatic demonstrates the extreme operational flexibility achieved by Edison in recent years and its ability to open new market segments in Italy.” He added: “We are proud of this achievement and see great potential in this sector, where the next step will be the growing contribution of BioGNL. The excellent collaboration with the Coast Guard of Trieste and the relevant authorities in the Adriatic Sea is certainly accelerating market development in this area.”

The STS bunkering demonstrates Edison’s capability to operate complex LNG logistics safely and efficiently, creating opportunities for further development of alternative maritime fuels in Italy. By enabling LNG supply to containerships, Edison and CMA CGM are contributing to decarbonization of the shipping sector while supporting operational reliability for Mediterranean shipping routes.

The operation also underscores the strategic importance of Trieste as a hub for LNG distribution in the Adriatic region. Edison’s experience with LNG logistics, combined with CMA CGM’s investment in dual-fuel vessels, positions both companies to expand the use of low-carbon fuels across commercial shipping.

This achievement signals a broader trend in maritime transport toward cleaner fuels, with LNG serving as a transitional solution as the industry moves toward more sustainable energy sources. The success of this bunkering operation sets a precedent for future LNG supply to commercial container vessels in Italian ports and the wider Mediterranean.

Edison and CMA CGM plan to continue exploring collaborative opportunities for LNG bunkering, including integrating BioLNG, to further enhance the environmental performance of shipping operations while maintaining efficiency and safety standards.