AIDA Cruises achieves positive sustainability result in 2015
Additional
milestones achieved in the commitment to reduce emissions
AIDA Cruises, a pioneer in the
German cruise industry when it comes to sustainability, successfully continued
in its commitment to reduce emissions in 2015.
“We have once again achieved
important milestones in environmental protection. Since 2015, AIDAsol is the
first cruise ship in the world to be supplied with power from low-emission
liquefied gas, supplied by the LNG Hybrid Barge in the port of Hamburg. Other
ships in the AIDA fleet received the first installations of the comprehensive
filter system to reduce waste gas. Together with atmosfair, we have launched a
climate protection program to reduce CO2 emissions. And as a new
member of the 2° Foundation, we also sent a clear signal in terms of climate
protection at the World Climate Conference in Paris, among other places,” said
Dr. Monika Griefahn, Chief Sustainability Officer at AIDA Cruises.
AIDA Cruises is consistently
continuing on its course towards sustainability. In 2015, the company announced
the order for two new ships of the latest AIDA ship generation from Meyer Werft
shipyard in Papenburg. The two ships, which will be commissioned in 2019 and
2020, will be the first cruise liners in the world to be 100 percent operated
with LNG under the Green Cruising concept.
“To us, economic success and
sustainable action are not mutually opposed – quite the opposite: This is the
basis for long-term success. AIDA is a trailblazer in terms of climate
protection in the cruise industry, not least in its use of liquefied natural
gas (LNG) as low-emission fuel,” Dr. Griefahn continued.
The use of LNG is already a
reality today at AIDA. Since May 30, 2015, AIDAsol has been supplied with power
generated from LNG during the time spent at the Hamburg Cruise Terminal
HafenCity, making it the world’s first cruise ship to be powered in this way.
The LNG Hybrid Barge, a unique pilot project from Becker Marine Systems and
AIDA Cruises for low-emission power supply of cruise ships, was designed,
constructed and commissioned in just three years. There is currently no more
environmentally friendly way to supply a cruise ship with power.
Compared to conventional marine
diesel with sulfur content of 0.1 percent, the use of LNG leads to a 100
percent reduction in the emission of soot particles and sulfur oxides, an 80
percent reduction in the emission of nitrogen oxides, and a 20 percent
reduction in the emission of CO2.
AIDAprima, to be put into service
in 2016, and her as yet unnamed sister ship are the first cruise ships in the
world to feature dual-fuel engines. They can thus be operated with LNG in ports
where the necessary infrastructure exists. This is an important step, because
the average cruise ship spends 40 percent of its operating time in port. With
the “Green Cruising” concept, the company is going a crucial step further,
operating the coming generation of ships in 2019/2020 completely with LNG, as
the world’s first cruise line to do so.
AIDA Cruises started a climate
protection program in 2014 together with the climate protection organization
atmosfair. The cruise company compensates for the CO2 emission of
all its employees' business trips through climate protection projects by
atmosfair, and since March 2015 also offers its guests the opportunity of a
voluntary CO2 compensation for their cruise. As part of a pilot
project and for the supply of its cruise ships in the future, AIDA Cruises is
testing the possibility of utilizing LNG that has been produced fully CO2-free
through the power-to-gas method with wind or solar power.
Since October 2015, AIDA Cruises
also supports the 2° Foundation in their work of engaging in dialog with
policymakers and members of academia in order to establish an effective
market-based framework for climate protection and spur German entrepreneurs to
create solutions in this area. Together with additional representatives from
member companies of the 2° Foundation, Dr. Monika Griefahn sent a signal on the
occasion of the negotiations at the World Climate Conference in Paris,
affirming AIDA Cruises' commitment to environmental protection.
More information about the
commitment of AIDA Cruises to the environment and society can be found at
www.aida.de/aidacares.
Rostock, January 06, 2015
