Axpo and Vitol Conduct First LNG Bunkering Operation at Italy's Civitavecchia

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday August 12, 2026

Axpo and Vitol have completed the first LNG bunkering operation at Italy’s Port of Civitavecchia, adding the major cruise port to their LNG refuelling network.

The ship-to-ship operation was carried out by Green Pearl, Axpo’s 7,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel, at berth 18 on Sunday morning, Axpo told Ship & Bunker in an emailed update on Wednesday.

Green Pearl entered service in 2026 and handles ship-to-ship and ship-to-truck bunkering in Italian ports.

Civitavecchia, the main seaport for Rome and Europe’s second-largest cruise port, follows Genoa and Naples in offering LNG bunkering.

Axpo launched LNG ship-to-ship bunkering at Genoa in late 2025 and at Naples in May this year.

The latest operation was carried out for a vessel operated by an international cruise line.

Axpo said the expansion will help strengthen LNG bunkering infrastructure and services in Italy.

“Today, LNG is one of the most substantial and readily available solutions to help support this transition,” Simone Demarchi, CEO of Axpo Italia, said.

“Vitol is globally invested throughout the value chain, from upstream bio-LNG and LNG production and offtake, through to solutions for customers through our LNG Bunker Vessel fleet,” Stefan Dubbeldam, head of small-scale LNG & LNG bunkering at Vitol, said.

Axpo is also expanding its bunkering fleet.

Alongside Green Pearl, it has chartered Alisios LNG, a 12,500 m3 bunkering vessel that began operating in Spain in March.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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