Galp Conducts 1st LNG Ship Refueling in Portugal

Last week, natural gas supplier Galp completed at the Port of Funchal the first ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel refueling carried out at a Portuguese port.

What is more, the LNG ship refueling is said to be the first on any Atlantic island.

The ship supplied with LNG was the 125,572 gross ton AIDAprima, owned by German cruise line AIDA Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation.

LNG powers an auxiliary motor that produces the energy used by the ship while at port, thus reducing the local emissions that would result from the use of diesel or fuel.

As explained, LNG used in this operation is transported through cryogenic cistern containers, which maintain the gas in liquid state at very low temperatures, enabling its safe transport.

Galp said it has now the capacity to refuel ships with LNG at any port of mainland Portugal and islands and will soon also provide ship-to-ship refueling.