The Port of Barcelona on Tuesday (27 January) said it is preparing a commercial service tender for methanol bunkering, with the first pilot planned to take place this year.
The port authority said it is currently working to give new impetus to the use of LNG and new zero-emission marine fuels.
It is also planning its first barge-to-ship LNG bunkering operation for container ships and other vessels at anchorage this year.
“In order to increase the volume of LNG supply to ships, it is necessary to increase the number of fuel suppliers and barges operating in the port,” the authority explained.
“In this sense, several companies have shown interest in obtaining authorisation and positioning barges in Barcelona or in the Western Mediterranean, which will facilitate the increase in the volume supplied.”
The plans come after Barcelona sold 231,787 m³ of LNG for bunkering in 2025, achieving an increase of close to 1% compared to the historical record of 2024.
Barcelona continues to lead the ports of the Spanish State in the supply of LNG and is one of the first in Europe in this type of bunkering.
In 2025, 545 LNG bunkering operations were carried out, of which 447 were through trucks, with 47,593 m³ supplied; and 98 from barges, with 184,194 m³.
The number of calls of ships powered by LNG has increased, especially cruise ships. Last year, nearly 30% of cruise ship calls were made by LNG-powered ships and more than 40% of passengers used LNG-powered ships.
Several factors influenced this growth including the entry into operation of the LNG supply barge Haugesund Knutsen from the Knutsen-Scale Gas in 2023 and the arrival of new types of ships that use LNG including car carriers.
The barge Haugesund Knutsen has been providing service for several months of 2025 at its maximum operational capacity, especially the months with the most cruises, and the company Baleària has slightly increased its LNG supply operations to ships, which have led to the 1% increase.
Also in 2025, bio-LNG bunkering operations began, a marine fuel that is expected to grow in the Port of Barcelona over the coming years.
Photo credit: Port of Barcelona
Published: 29 January, 2026
