World Fuel Services, a World Kinect company has announced that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCL) has carried out one of the first commercial biofuel bunkerings for a cruise vessel in Greece, with ‘Norwegian Viva’ receiving a waste-based marine fuel blend in Piraeus.
Coordinated by World Fuel, in collaboration with Greek supplier EKO, the delivery is said to highlight how international cooperation is enabling the cruise sector to reduce emissions today. The pioneering bunkering operation represents an extension of NCL’s biofuel program across Southern Europe as part of its Sail & Sustain strategy and demonstrates World Fuel’s ability to connect ship operators with certified sustainable fuels worldwide.
The delivery builds on NCL’s previous biofuel operations in Europe, including successful trials in Gibraltar, Copenhagen, and the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, as well as a biofuel delivery in Piraeus in July 2025. Together, these operations highlight the cruise line’s commitment to integrating sustainable fuel solutions across its fleet and World Fuel’s role in enabling these projects.
Kimberly Westmoreland, Senior Director Cruise and Energy Transition, World Fuel, said: “This collaboration demonstrates how the cruise industry can access certified alternative fuels right now – not someday. By uniting our global supply network with strong local execution, we’re able to support forward-looking operators like Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings turn low carbon fuels access into meaningful progress on decarbonisation.”
Lory Urdaneta, NCL Senior Director Energy Strategy, added: “This biofuel operation Piraeus reflects the kind of pragmatic progress we’re making under our Sail & Sustain program. It’s one more way we’re scaling lower-carbon solutions across our fleet while maintaining the guest experience we’re known for. Collaborating with partners like World Fuel and EKO enables us to accelerate our decarbonisation efforts and extend our sustainability impact across new geographies.”
Chrisanthopoulos Konstantinos, Manager, Marine Fuels and Services Division, EKO said: “EKO is proud to contribute to this important milestone in Greece. By supplying waste-based biofuels locally, we are demonstrating the readiness of the market and the potential for wider adoption across the Mediterranean.”
As the commercialisation of the energy transition continues to take root, collaborations of this kind show how the cruise sector can use alliances to deliver measurable progress today. By coordinating supply, supporting certification, and ensuring operational reliability, World Fuel continues to help ship operators worldwide access the right fuel at the right time.
Image: ‘Norwegian Viva’ receives biofuel blend in Piraeus (source: World Fuel Services)
