Japan’s Largest Cruise Ship, ASUKA III, Completes Its First LNG Bunkering

The ASUKA III, the largest Japan-flagged cruise ship, has successfully completed its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation at Singapore Cruise Centre.

The bunkering was carried out by FueLNG Private Limited, a joint venture between Shell Singapore and Seatrium. According to Singapore Cruise Centre, this event also represents Shell LNG’s first-ever supply to an LNG-powered cruise ship in the Asia-Pacific region.

ASUKA III is operated by NYK Cruises, a subsidiary of Japanese shipping group NYK Line, and was delivered in April 2025.

The vessel was delivered in April 2025 and is equipped with a dual-fuel propulsion system, allowing it to run on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and conventional marine diesel.

The ship measures 230 meters in length, 29.8 meters in width, and has a gross tonnage of 52,200 GT. It features 13 decks, 385 passenger staterooms, and can accommodate up to 744 passengers.

This LNG bunkering comes after a similar event involving Silversea’s Silver Nova, which was refuelled at the same terminal in February 2025.

According to Dexter Belmar, General Manager and Head of Global Downstream LNG at Shell, the dual-fuel fleet in the cruise segment is growing, and the company is pleased to support cruise operators in Singapore.

Belmar also appreciated NYK’s trust in Shell’s LNG bunkering services, which already support other NYK-operated ships like car carriers and bulkers in Singapore and Europe.

Singapore Cruise Centre stated that this achievement would not have been possible without the strong collaboration with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), FueLNG, and its terminal team.

The MPA has played a crucial role in enabling LNG bunkering in Singapore, working with industry players to build the city-state’s reputation as a global hub for alternative marine fuels.

References: cruisemapper, manifoldtimes

Source: Maritime Shipping News