Mein Schiff 7: TUI Cruises Launches Methanol Pilot Operation for 2025
The Mein Schiff 7 is the first TUI Cruises ship prepared for methanol operation. In 2025, initial tests with green methanol are to run as a pilot programme — on the path to climate-neutral cruising.
19. April 2026
TUI Cruises has announced that the Mein Schiff 7 will test green methanol as a fuel in a pilot programme from 2025. The ship was already delivered methanol-ready when it was built (June 2024).
What is green methanol?
Methanol from renewable sources (solar/wind electricity + CO₂ from the air) is considered the fuel of the near future. It is liquid at room temperature (easier to store than LNG), and CO₂-neutral when burned, provided the electricity comes from renewables.
The sticking point: availability
The current bottleneck: green methanol is still expensive in 2025 (3–5 times the price of LNG) and only available in limited quantities. TUI initially plans regionally limited tests in European ports with proven methanol supply.