RINA played a key role on a recent drydock on Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, which drydocked in Marseille, France, last year.

“RINA has been involved in LNG cruise propulsion since the very beginning—from the first designs and newbuilds to bunkering operations and drydocks,” said Michele Landro, RINA’s director of passenger ships segment (Americas).

RINA is the class society not only on the Mardi Gras but also on the AIDAnova, which was the first Carnival Excel LNG ship.

“Mardi Gras represents the natural evolution of that journey: managing LNG systems not as a novelty, but as a mature technology requiring deep lifecycle expertise.”

RINA stated that this drydock required extensive advanced planning and close technical alignment between Carnival Cruise Line, the shipyard and its own global teams.

Since LNG fuel systems are said to add an additional layer of complexity compared to conventional fuels, detailed coordination wasneeded for inspections, system modifications, safety reviews and readiness for immediate return to service, RINA said in a statement.

According to RINA, early preparation played a key role in the process.

This required a comprehensive shipyard assessment approximately one year in advance, to evaluate LNG readiness, safety procedures, infrastructure, and operational interfaces.

“LNG drydocks require a different level of preparation compared to conventional fuel systems,” added Martina Gallus, SVP technical operations at Carnival Cruise Line.

“Early technical alignment, training, and shipyard readiness are essential. RINA’s long-standing involvement with Mardi Gras and their deep LNG expertise supported a structured and well-prepared approach, helping us manage complexity while maintaining safety and operational reliability.”

The company described early preparation as instrumental in mitigating risks and ensuring the shipyard was fully prepared to manage LNG-related activities safely and efficiently during the drydock.