Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.and Repsol sign a historic eight-year agreement for the supply of renewable marine fuels in the Port of Barcelona, establishing an unprecedented long-term relationship within the cruise industry.
Starting with the 2026 European season, Repsol will offer a portfolio of renewable fuels, including biofuels and, from 2029, renewable methanol, directly to ships of NCLH's three brands —Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises— during their calls at the port of Barcelona.
“This partnership is an excellent example of how cross-industry collaboration can unlock significant progress,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “Securing long-term access to renewable marine fuels at a key European port aligns directly with our Sail & Sustain® program and demonstrates our commitment to a more sustainable future.”
“This landmark agreement demonstrates that renewable fuels are ready to play a key role in reducing the maritime sector’s carbon footprint. By partnering with NCLH, one of the world’s leading cruise lines, we are showing that renewable fuels can now be deployed on a large scale to begin reducing emissions at sea,” said Juan Abascal, Executive Director of Industrial Transformation and Circular Economy at Repsol.
The agreement between NCLH and Repsol was established in response to the changing international regulatory environment and both companies' commitment to achieving net zero carbon neutrality by 2050. All fuels included in this agreement are certified under the ISCC EU framework and meet the standards necessary to support NCLH's environmental compliance and decarbonization roadmap.
Renewable methanol will be produced at Repsol's Ecoplanta plant in Tarragona (Spain), a pioneering project in Europe that transforms urban waste into renewable fuels and circular products, contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions in the transport sector and promoting the circular economy.
The new plant—scheduled to begin operations in 2029—will have the capacity to process up to 400,000 tons of municipal solid waste per year, transforming it into 240,000 tons of renewable fuels and circular products. NCLH is the first company to sign an offtake agreement for renewable methanol from the Ecoplanta facility.
This alliance reinforces NCLH's commitment to developing low-emission fuel solutions and supporting the circular economy, while maintaining operational flexibility and cost efficiency across its fleet. It also directly supports the company's global program, Sail & Sustain®, a corporate initiative focused on reducing greenhouse gas intensity, investing in innovative energy solutions, and fostering collaboration throughout the value chain.
As part of its “Charting the Course 2026” goals, the company aims to achieve a 10% reduction in GHG emissions intensity by 2026 and a 25% reduction by 2030.
Renewable fuels are a central pillar of Repsol's strategy to reduce CO₂ emissions across all transport sectors. They represent an immediately available alternative for decarbonizing current and future vehicles, without the need to modify engines or existing distribution and refueling infrastructure.
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