German cruise operator TUI Cruises is expanding liquefied biomethane (LBM) use across its dual-fuel fleet, with two vessels now operating entirely or substantially on the renewable fuel across European itineraries.
Mein Schiff Relax is running its complete Northern European summer season on LBM, serving Scandinavian and Baltic ports. Mein Schiff Flow has been regularly bunkering LBM in Barcelona since May 2026 and is expected to maintain the fuel across seasonal operations.
By July 2026, LBM deployment had delivered approximately 26,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas savings compared with conventional marine fuel, according to chief executive Wybcke Meier. The company projects the reduction will reach approximately 50,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent by year-end.
The expanded biomethane programme forms part of TUI Cruises' broader decarbonisation strategy, encompassing alternative fuels, energy-efficiency measures and emissions-reduction technologies across the Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleets.
Cruise shipping represents a high-value demand segment for liquefied biomethane, as vessels require substantial thermal loads and operate on predictable, route-based schedules compatible with bunkering infrastructure. LBM delivers significant emissions reductions over conventional marine gasoil and offers operational compatibility with existing dual-fuel engine architecture.
The scale of TUI Cruises' deployment illustrates maritime sector appetite for renewable methane solutions, provided bunkering infrastructure and fuel supply reliability can scale across European ports.
TUI Cruises scales liquefied biomethane deployment across European fleet
