Today in the port of Genoa the first refueling a parked ferry with liquefied natural gas in the Ligurian port. In fact, an operation was carried out bunkering of 500 cubic meters of bioLNG, obtained from biogas of organic origin, which was delivered to the new GNV vessel Virgo of the GNV company, an activity that has been carried out together with Axpo Italia and with the support of the Italian Regulatory Authority of the Port System of the Western Ligurian Sea and of the Harbour Master's Office of the Port of Genoa. The use of LNG will allow GNV Virgo, which can accommodate 1,785 passengers and offers a load capacity of 2,770 linear metres, to reduce the CO2 emissions of around 50% per transportable unit compared to previous generation ships.

Thanks to this refueling, the ferry will be able to make the first Genoa-Palermo round trip with net zero greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating - has GNV specified by announcing the bunkering - which operations maritime networks with almost zero impact are already technically possible today, provided that there is availability of alternative fuels such as bio-LNG. "We are working - explained the company's CEO, Matteo Catani - so that the use of bio-LNG can become a solution for our operations, although we are aware that today the availability of this fuel remains limited and requires significant investments, in addition to the development of a capable of ensuring stable supplies on a large scale. The costs are still high and the amount of product present on the market is not enough to cover a demand increasing. It is a complex path, which requires the commitment and collaboration of all the actors involved in the supply chain".

Admiral Antonio Ranieri, Maritime Director of Liguria and commander of the Port Authority of Genoa, explained that Today's bunkering operation "is the result of a A very complex process that lasted several months, which saw the close collaboration with the Port System Authority, ASL, Fire Brigade, Port Chemist and with Companies GNV and Axpo Italia are involved. In this period - he specified - I am all technical issues related to the safety, leading to the successful outcome of the visits and tests carried out on board the GNV Virgo and the refuelling unit and So the go-ahead for the operation. The experience gained will allow for the drafting of a regulation governing this type of bunkering for all LNG and bioLNG units that the main Ligurian port and one of the largest in the Mediterranean. In perspective, a turning point of great importance, which sees Genoa at the forefront of sustainability of maritime navigation, and which may have a favorable impact on the relationship between port and city".