CMA CGM and Edison have completed Italy's first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation for a container vessel at the port of Trieste.

The CMA CGM Salamanque was refuelled by Edison's LNG carrier Ravenna Knutsen in the operation, which, according to ship-tracking data, would appear to have taken place between October 31 and November 1 — when both vessels were last present concurrently at the Italian port.

The Malta-flagged 2,000 TEU boxship, currently deployed in the Mediterranean, was built by HD Hyundai in South Korea and delivered in 2024.

The Ravenna Knutsen is an LNG carrier that has been operating under charter to Edison since 2021. The vessel, which was built by HD Hyundai and delivered in 2021, previously conducted the very first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation in Trieste and the Adriatic Sea in July 2024.

The carrier can transport up to 30,000 cubic meters of LNG via three high-nickel steel tanks insulated to withstand cryogenic temperatures. The vessel has a double set of cargo manifolds (both low and high) for operational versatility, enabling it to operate with vessels and at storage facilities of different sizes.

Commenting on the latest development, Fabrizio Mattana, Executive Vice President of Gas Assets at Edison, said: "The first [LNG] bunkering of a container ship in the Adriatic demonstrates the extreme operational flexibility achieved by Edison in recent years and its ability to open new market segments in Italy.

"We are proud of this achievement and see great potential in this sector, where the next step will be the growing contribution of BioGNL," he added.

CMA CGM commented: "This operation demonstrates CMA CGM's confidence in Italy's ports and maritime infrastructure to support LNG bunkering and the ongoing development of local supply chains."