Hamburg-based energy company Mabanaft has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TUI Cruises to supply green methanol in the future. The cooperation between Mabanaft and TUI Cruises begins with a methanol delivery for the Mein Schiff Seven.
By joining forces, Mabanaft and TUI Cruises aims to contribute to making the cruise industry more climate friendly. With the commissioning of Mein Schiff Seven in 2024, TUI Cruises will take into operation a cruise ship that can also run on methanol, or green methanol in perspective. This initiative has created opportunity for the ship's propulsion system decarbonisation. Over the next few years, TUI Cruises intends to add further dual-fuel methanol-ready cruise ships to its fleet in Germany.
The Mabanaft Group, among others supplier of transportation fuels and operator of tank terminals in Germany, Denmark and Hungary, intends to supplement its range of marine fuels with methanol and other hydrogen derivatives from regenerative sources to help its customers speed up its defossilisation efforts. In order to supply TUI Cruises, among others, with methanol, Mabanaft is also planning the necessary storage and bunkering infrastructure in Hamburg and potentially other ports.
The MoU marks the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership between Mabanaft and TUI Cruises. As part of the agreement, Mabanaft is set to cover TUI Cruises’ methanol needs in Northern Germany – and potentially in other European ports in the future. The company intends to focus on a gradual transition to synthetic e-methanol.