DCL-Disney Cruise Line’s ship Disney Fantasy has become the first cruise vessel in Italy to be bunkered/refuelled with advanced biofuel, achieving a landmark in maritime sustainability during its call at the Port of Naples.
The bunkering operation was overseen by Q8 Italia, which confirmed delivery of Q8 HVO (the port’s inaugural hydrotreated vegetable oil supply for a cruise ship), signifying a decisive step toward reducing shipping emissions.
HVO is a second-generation biofuel converted from used vegetable oil, animal fats, and plant byproducts through hydrogenation into paraffinic hydrocarbons. This fuel behaves like traditional diesel yet offers a greener profile, allowing cruise ships to reduce carbon outputs without requiring engine modifications—unlike alternative fuels such as LNG.
Regulatory clarity remains a hurdle: Italian-flagged vessels currently require ministerial authorisation and a Coast Guard fuel assessment before using biofuels, in addition to detailed risk documentation ahead of deployment.
The operation aboard the Disney Fantasy underscores a growing evolution within maritime bunkering, as cruise lines and ports increasingly seek scalable, lower-emission fuel sources to align with environmental targets.