Vancouver Port Marks First LNG Bunkering for Cruise Ship

The Vancouver Port Authority has achieved a significant milestone by overseeing the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering of a cruise ship in its history.

The operation involved the Seaspan Garibaldi, which performed a ship-to-ship LNG fuel transfer to Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova while docked at Vancouver Port ahead of its departure to Alaska.

This landmark event was made possible through the efforts of the port authority, which granted operational accreditation to Seaspan Energy in 2024. The approval followed an extensive safety and risk evaluation, ensuring the secure handling of LNG in the port environment.

Seaspan Energy now operates three LNG bunkering vessels along the West Coast of North America, helping to facilitate a shift toward cleaner maritime fuels.

While Vancouver Port has long offered biofuel alternatives to ships, this event represents its first step into LNG refueling—a key development as the industry moves away from diesel and conventional marine fuels. The successful bunkering also sets the stage for broader use of future fuels such as methanol and ammonia.