Madrid, Spain | October 20, 2025 — In a landmark move to accelerate the maritime industry’s decarbonization, Repsol and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. have signed an unprecedented eight-year agreement for the long-term supply of renewable marine fuels at the Port of Barcelona, setting a new benchmark for sustainability and cross-industry collaboration in the global cruise sector.
A Long-Term Commitment to Cleaner Seas
Beginning with the 2026 European cruise season, Repsol will begin supplying advanced biofuels to vessels across NCLH’s three premium cruise brands — Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. By 2029, the agreement will expand to include renewable methanol, aligning with the industry’s push toward scalable, low-carbon alternative fuels.
“This milestone agreement highlights that renewable fuels are ready to play a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of the maritime sector,” said Juan Abascal, Repsol’s Executive Managing Director of Industrial Transformation and Circular Economy. “By partnering with NCLH, one of the world’s leading cruise companies, we demonstrate that renewable fuels can already be deployed at scale to immediately start reducing emissions at sea.”
“This alliance is an excellent example of how cross-industry collaboration can drive significant progress,” added Harry Sommer, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “Securing long-term access to renewable marine fuels at a key European port aligns directly with our Sail & Sustain program and demonstrates our commitment to advancing towards a more sustainable future.”
Renewable Methanol: Sourced from Innovation
The renewable methanol supplied under the agreement will be produced at Repsol’s cutting-edge Ecoplanta facility in Tarragona, Spain — one of Europe’s most advanced projects for converting urban waste into renewable fuels and circular products. Scheduled to begin operations in 2029, Ecoplanta will process up to 400,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually, yielding approximately 240,000 tons of renewable fuels, helping to slash CO₂ emissions in hard-to-abate transport sectors.
NCLH becomes the first cruise company globally to sign an offtake agreement for renewable methanol from the Ecoplanta project, cementing its position as a frontrunner in sustainable maritime fuel adoption.
Regulatory Alignment and Climate Targets
The agreement is fully certified under the ISCC EU (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) framework, ensuring compliance with evolving international sustainability and decarbonization regulations. It also directly supports both companies’ Net Zero 2050 ambitions.
This partnership plays a pivotal role in achieving NCLH’s “Charting the Course” 2026 sustainability roadmap, which targets:
- 10% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity by 2026, and
- 25% reduction by 2030.
Meanwhile, Repsol is reinforcing its multi-energy strategy to provide scalable, drop-in renewable fuel solutions that do not require modifications to existing engines or fuel infrastructure — critical for accelerating the energy transition across all transportation modes.
Repsol: Scaling Up Renewable Fuel Infrastructure
Repsol already operates the first renewable diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant on the Iberian Peninsula in Cartagena (250,000 t/year), with a second plant in Puertollano (200,000 t/year) scheduled to open in 2026. A demonstration plant for synthetic fuels in Bilbao is also set to launch operations next year.
By the end of 2025, Repsol aims to offer renewable diesel at over 1,500 service stations in Spain and Portugal, making it one of Europe’s largest 100% renewable fuel networks. The company is also the leading supplier of SAF in the region, supporting the aviation sector’s compliance with the EU’s new 2% SAF mandate.
A Blueprint for Maritime Decarbonization
This long-term agreement demonstrates the viability and urgency of deploying renewable marine fuels at scale, especially within the cruise and maritime transport sectors — which face mounting pressure to reduce emissions under IMO and EU Fit for 55 targets.
As part of this partnership, Repsol and NCLH are not just responding to policy shifts — they are shaping the future of low-carbon shipping. The collaboration represents a new model for how fuel producers and operators can work together to build resilient, sustainable supply chains that serve both business and the planet.
The Port of Barcelona: A Regional Powerhouse in Transition
Situated on Spain’s northeastern coast, the Port of Barcelona is more than a major logistics hub; it is a vital economic engine for the Western Mediterranean. Serving as a key gateway for trade between Europe, Asia, and Africa, it also ranks among the world’s busiest cruise ports. This dual role uniquely positions Barcelona to drive sustainable innovation across cargo and passenger maritime sectors.
Committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050, the port has systematically developed the infrastructure needed to support alternative marine fuels.
About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company operating 34 ships under Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The company offers itineraries to nearly 700 destinations and plans to launch 13 new ships through 2036, adding over 38,400 berths to its fleet.
About Repsol
Repsol is a global multi-energy provider operating in over 20 countries with 25,000 employees and 24 million customers. The company is transforming its industrial operations in the Iberian Peninsula into advanced multi-energy hubs to produce low-carbon solutions such as 100% renewable fuels, advancing toward a decarbonized energy future.
A Milestone in Green Maritime Strategy
This groundbreaking deal between Repsol and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings marks a turning point for maritime energy solutions, proving that renewable marine fuels are not a future vision, but a present reality.
As cruise lines and energy producers face increased regulatory scrutiny and stakeholder demand for sustainability, this agreement shows what’s possible through forward-thinking strategy, infrastructure investment, and bold collaboration.
Source: Repsol