A defining moment has been achieved at the Port of Genoa for the clean energy transition of the Italian maritime industry overall, with the first ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering operation using Bio-liquified natural gas (LNG) of a passenger ferry, the new flagship dual-fuel GNV Virgo. This successful landmark supply of a renewable fuel is the result of the close teamwork between the local public authorities and the private sector partners.
The meticulously planned STS bunkering operation confirms the Ports of Genoa as a leading green energy hub for the Mediterranean shipping sector, in line with the current Italian regulations and EU guidelines on the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. The GNV ro-pax vessel refuelling by Axpo involved the transfer of 500 cubic metres of certified Bio-LNG, a renewable gas produced from organic waste materials, .to cover its entire maiden return voyage on the long-distance Genoa-Palermo route, pioneering a new frontier in marine fuel, This offers a tangible demonstration of how renewable fuels can be integrated into regular passenger ferry services, thereby achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and anticipating the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority’s long-term goal to achieve carbon-neutrality. The bunkering operation was carried out in full compliance of safety regulations on ship-to-ship LNG and Bio-LNG refuelling in Italian ports, published by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport in May 2025.
The Port Authority plays a strategic role in the development of alternative fuels and new technology, which includes the installation of Onshore Power Supply facilities at the cruise and ferry passenger Ports of Genoa and Savona, to reduce the environmental impact of port activities and act as a model of best practices in the clean energy transition of the shipping industry.
The Port Authority President, Matteo Paroli, declared: “Today marks a historic milestone for the Italian maritime industry, as the first ship-to-ship Bio-LNG bunkering operation of a ferry vessel, the new GNV Virgo, is conducted at the Port of Genoa. The success of the complex operation, carried out in full compliance of strict international safety regulations, is the result of the coordinated collaboration between the local public authorities – the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority and the Port of Genoa Harbour Master – and the GNV and Axpo partnership. This moment represents a true turning point not only for Genoa but for the Italian port sector overall, and positions Genoa as a pioneering hub for low-carbon shipping in the Mediterranean, whilst underlining the importance of sustainable fuel supply chains, public-private cooperation and forward-looking fleet strategies.”
