P&O UK's Arvia - the UK's second LNG-powered cruise vessel (following the sistership Iona), made her debut in Lisbon (Portugal) on January 3rd on her 14-day maiden voyage.
Arvia is one of the 28 cruise ships ordered until 2028 powered by alternative fuels. After Iona (which debuted in Lisbon in October 2021), Arvia is the P&O Cruises UK's second Excel class boat powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) - the lowest emission fossil fuel currently available in the marine industry.
During Arvia's stay in Lisbon, a welcome ceremony took place, and joined the Cruise Terminal Operator, the port Authority, Lisbon Cruise Port, the Harbour Master, and the Customs together with Captain Robert Camby, and tug boats from Portugs escorted the liner alongside the Tagus river.
According to Lisbon Cruise Port, it was a great honor to welcome such a technologically advanced ship since environmental issues were one of the top priorities of the port Authority for the next years.
"The project to implement the electricity supply solution (OPS- Onshore Power Supply, campaigns for monitoring water and air quality in the area of influence of the Terminal and participation in the study Determination of the Impact of Cruise Ship Traffic on Urban Air Quality promoted by CLIA Europe in partnership with Universitat Rovira I Virgili, from Tarragona are some of the actions that are being taken regarding the environmental policy in place."
2023 is expected to be a record year, according to the calls revealed and they expect to welcome ~25 ships for the first time.