Axpo’s Green Pearl is now operational, expanding the company’s small-scale LNG bunkering capacity in the Mediterranean. The vessel supports both ship-to-ship and ship-to-truck operations, enhancing speed, flexibility, and reach across regional markets.
Genoa, Italy | January 29, 2026 – The Mediterranean’s small-scale LNG landscape has undergone a decisive transformation with the official entry into service of the LNG bunkering vessel Green Pearl at the Port of Genoa. Chartered by energy major Axpo under a landmark ten-year agreement, the vessel marks a sophisticated leap in maritime energy logistics, seamlessly combining ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering with a pioneering ship-to-truck distribution model.
Commissioned by G&H Shipping Srl, a high-profile joint venture between Gas and Heat S.p.A., San Giorgio del Porto Spa, and Sofipa Spa, Green Pearl has been conceived as a mobile energy hub. With a cargo capacity of 7,500 cubic metres, the vessel is strategically positioned to accelerate the uptake of both conventional LNG and carbon-neutral Bio-LNG across the Western Mediterranean.
Engineering a First-in-Europe Multi-Modal LNG Platform
While most LNG bunkering vessels remain limited to STS operations, Green Pearl introduces a breakthrough capability to the European market.
Built by an Italian industrial consortium led by Gas and Heat S.p.A. and the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard, the vessel is equipped with the patented LNG4Speed® technology. This system enables continuous ship-to-truck LNG transfers, allowing Green Pearl to operate as a floating terminal directly connected to road tanker logistics.
The design of the Green Pearl LNG bunkering vessel was developed by Marine Engineering Services S.r.l. (MES), which also provided continuous technical support to the shipyard throughout all phases of construction. MES’s engineering expertise played a key role in achieving the vessel’s high performance standards and operational reliability.
The innovation effectively decentralizes LNG distribution. By bypassing the need for capital-intensive onshore terminals, Axpo can now supply inland industrial consumers and smaller regional ports, dramatically expanding the reach of small-scale LNG without multi-million-euro infrastructure investments.
A Strategic Axis for the Western Mediterranean
At the Genoa launch ceremony, industry leaders underscored the vessel’s strategic importance for regional energy security and the maritime energy transition.
Operating primarily along the Italian coastline and throughout the Western Mediterranean, Green Pearl strengthens Italy’s ambition to establish itself as the Mediterranean’s primary “gas hub.” Its deployment comes at a critical moment, as FuelEU Maritime regulations, effective from 2025, mandate progressive reductions in greenhouse gas intensity for shipping.
Domenico De Luca, Head of Business Area Trading & Sales at Axpo, highlighted the broader significance of the project:
“Today’s launch marks a milestone for Axpo and for Genoa, strengthening our leadership in small-scale LNG and bio-LNG. By enabling lower-emission solutions and supporting future renewable fuels, Green Pearl reflects our pragmatic approach to the energy transition and reinforces Italy’s role as a regional hub.”
The Bio-LNG Frontier: A Ready-to-Use Decarbonization Pathway
Perhaps the most consequential element of Green Pearl’s mission is its role in the Bio-LNG supply chain. As a carbon-neutral, drop-in fuel derived from organic waste, Bio-LNG represents the shipping industry’s most immediately scalable response to the IMO’s 2050 decarbonization targets.
By creating a direct logistical bridge between Bio-LNG production sites and heavy-tonnage vessels calling at Genoa, Axpo is effectively delivering a ready-to-use decarbonization solution for the global fleet, without requiring engine retrofits or operational disruption.
The long-term commitment underpinning the project was emphasized by Marco Novella, President of G&H Shipping:
“It is with great pride and a sense of responsibility that G&H Shipping officially delivers the new vessel to Axpo as charterer. This marks the beginning of a partnership which we hope will double over time. The Green Pearl is not just a ship; it is a ten-year commitment to Mediterranean energy security.”
Expanding Reach Along the Italian Coastline
The deployment of Green Pearl directly addresses surging demand for flexible bunkering solutions across Italy and the wider Mediterranean basin.
Daniele Corti, Head of Small-Scale LNG at Axpo, emphasized the vessel’s pioneering status:
“This innovative vessel is the first of its kind in Europe, and marks the further expansion of our small-scale LNG capabilities in the region. Green Pearl will support the growing demand in the Mediterranean for flexible and efficient bunkering solutions.”
Technical Profile: Sustainability Through Technology
Developed by a specialized consortium of Italian shipbuilders, Green Pearl is the industrial embodiment of high-efficiency cryogenic engineering and emissions-reduction design.
Operational Focus
- Primary deployment along the Italian coastline and Western Mediterranean hubs
Fuel Versatility
- Fully engineered to handle LNG and Bio-LNG, both renewable and fossil-based
- “Drop-in” compatibility for immediate emissions reduction
Strategic Objective
- Reinforcing Italy’s role as a regional gas hub
- Supporting infrastructure development for next-generation maritime fuels
As regulatory and commercial pressure to decarbonize intensifies, Green Pearl emerges as a true “Green Sentinel” for the Mediterranean, offering speed, flexibility, and technological sophistication for a new era of maritime commerce.
Technical Specifications: Precision at Sea
Green Pearl stands as a showcase of Italian cryogenic engineering excellence. Its two internal tanks, weighing a combined 685 tonnes, were engineered in Livorno to ensure extreme thermal stability for LNG and liquefied biomethane.
- Cargo Capacity: 7,500 cbm
- Length / Beam: 118.4 m / 19 m
- Fuel Capability: LNG, Bio-LNG, future-ready for potential ammonia applications
- Logistics: Simultaneous multi-truck loading skids for high-speed distribution
Analysis: Why This Matters
For maritime stakeholders, Green Pearl represents the tangible arrival of the small-scale LNG revolution in Southern Europe. By shortening the distribution chain and expanding Bio-LNG availability, Axpo is lowering the barrier for shipowners who have already invested in dual-fuel tonnage but faced persistent fuel-access constraints in the region.
In strategic, regulatory, and operational terms, Green Pearl is not just a vessel, it is infrastructure, policy alignment, and market signal combined.
About Axpo
Axpo is Switzerland’s largest producer of renewable energy and a leading player in energy trading and LNG solutions. Operating in over 30 countries across Europe, North America, and Asia, Axpo delivers innovative and sustainable energy solutions for a wide range of customers, from small enterprises to large industrial companies. In the maritime sector, Axpo is a trusted partner in LNG and bio-LNG bunkering, committed to accelerating the decarbonization of shipping through clean fuel supply chains.
Source: AXPO