Royal Caribbean Group will spend the next three months testing a biofuel blend on two ships sailing in Europe.
Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex, and Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas, will use a mix of marine fuel oil and biofuel in a trial to collect data about the fuel’s capabilities and supply chain infrastructure.
According to travelweekly.com, the Apex will depart from Rotterdam and the Symphony will depart from Barcelona using the biofuel blend.
The biofuel, intended to reduce both ships’ carbon emissions, was produced by purifying renewable raw material, such as oil and fats, and combining them with fuel oil, said the group.
After this summer trial, the group plans to scale up the utilisation of alternative fuels on European cruises.
“With the completion of the trials, our hope is to advance our ships’ ability to meaningfully reduce emissions and propel forward strategic partnerships with suppliers and ports to ensure there is sufficient availability of biofuel and infrastructures to make maritime energy transition a reality,” said Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
