‘First-ever’ LNG shore-to-ship bunkering ops wind down at South Florida’s port

April 7, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Florida-headquartered Sawgrass LNG & Power, a provider of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and turnkey gas-to-power solutions across the Southeastern United States and Caribbean, has wrapped up LNG shore-to-ship bunkering operation at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Sawgrass LNG & Power completes LNG shore-to-ship bunkering operation at Port Everglades in Fort Laude; Source: Sawgrass LNG & Power

Described as the “first-ever” shore-to-ship LNG bunkering operation at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, the activity was completed on March 26, 2026, fueling the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessel Ilma.

The operation is seen as a significant step forward in expanding LNG as a marine fuel solution in South Florida, which reinforces Port Everglades’ support for next-generation marine fuels used by its cruise and cargo customers.

The firm explains that the bunkering operation was conducted in coordination with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Port Everglades, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and REV, perceived to reflect a high degree of planning, safety oversight, and inter-agency coordination.

Neil J. Kutchera, Assistant Director of Energy and Innovation at Port Everglades, commented: “This is a defining moment for Port Everglades and our partners Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Sawgrass LNG & Power.

“We are excited to have this lower-carbon fuel available for both landside and waterside delivery and applaud Ritz-Carlton and Sawgrass LNG for their commitment to safety and sustainability.”

Sawgrass LNG & Power claims to be well-positioned to provide reliable, domestically sourced fuel backed by integrated logistics and proven operational expertise, as LNG adoption continues to expand across the maritime sector.

Daniel McLaughlin, President & Chief Commercial Officer of Sawgrass LNG & Power, highlighted: “We are deeply appreciative of our partners Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Port Everglades, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and REV for their role in executing this milestone operation.

“This achievement reflects a shared commitment to safety and operational excellence, and we look forward to many future bunkering operations at Port Everglades.”

This achievement comes months after Sawgrass LNG & Power fortified its bond with Barbados National Energy Company Limited (BNECL) through a new LNG supply contract.