AIDAnova: The future is taking up speed
Machine room module for the world's first LNG cruise ship leaves the Neptun shipyard
Today, Monday, September 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., the first of two AIDAnova modules left the Neptun shipyard in Rostock, which belongs to the Meyer Group, with Papenburg as its destination. The first of two flotation elements is carrying the four dual-fuel engines by Caterpillar and hence the heart of AIDAnova. AIDAnova is the first cruise ship in the world, which, starting in the fall of 2018, will be able to operate both in ports and at sea with the currently most environmentally friendly and lowest-emission fossil fuel thanks to the operation of dual-fuel engines. By using low-emission liquid natural gas (LNG), emissions of particulate matter and sulfur oxides are almost completely prevented, and emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO2 are sustainably reduced.
The 120 meter long and 42 meter wide as well as three decks high machine room module, also referred to as Floating Engine Room Units (FERU), will, depending upon weather conditions, require four days for the crossing to the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg. With the help of tug boats, the flotation element will reach the North Sea-Baltic Sea Canal in the early morning hours of September 26, 2017, at around 7:00 a.m. and cross this in the course of a twelve-hour journey from Kiel to Brunsbüttel. The floating part will reach Brunsbüttel on September 26, 2017, at around 7:00 p.m. From Borkum, it will carry on towards Emden, with an expected arrival time of 9:00 a.m. on September 27, 2017. The last part continuing via the river Ems will be between Emden and Papenburg, where the module will arrive at around 7:00 p.m. on September 28, 2017.
The second AIDAnova module, also 120 meters long and 42 meters wide, is currently under construction at the Neptun shipyard. The four decks high floating part with the three LNG tanks of AIDAnova will most likely leave the Neptun Yard towards the end of November 2017. Two of the tanks each have a length of almost 35 meters, a diameter of approximately 8 meters and a capacity of 1,500 cubic meters. Another tank has a length of 28 meters, a diameter of approximately 5 meters and a capacity of 550 cubic meters. The total volume of the three LNG tanks thus amounts to 3,550 cubic meters.
With the construction of the engine room modules at the Neptun shipyard in Rostock and the investment in Caterpillar engines, AIDA Cruises not only strengthens regional cooperation, but is also a key driver of the local economy. More than 500 shipyard workers and 500 external employees from other service providers are currently employed at the Neptun shipyard. In addition, there are 120 Caterpillar employees assembling the engines.
Bookings are now available
Starting in December 2018, AIDAnova will offer trips around the Canary Islands. Before the start of the Canary season, the new ship will make a stop in Hamburg. On December 2, 2018, the new ship will visit the Hanseatic City on the Elbe. From here, it will set off towards Gran Canaria.
All AIDAnova cruises can be booked at travel agencies, the AIDA Customer Center at +49 (0)381/202 707 07, or at www.aida.de. More information and impressions are available at aida.de/genaumeinurlaub.
Rostock, September 25, 2017
About AIDA Cruises:
AIDA Cruises is one of the fastest growing and commercially most successful tourism businesses in Germany. The company employs about 9,000 people from 40 countries on shore and on board AIDA ships. AIDA Cruises operates one of the world's most state-of-the-art fleets, currently comprised of 12 cruise ships. Two new ships built at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg (Germany) will join the fleet by 2021. With its "Green Cruising" concept, AIDA Cruises will be the first cruise company in the world that can power its new generation of ships entirely with LNG (liquid natural gas) from 2018. More information at www.aida.de.
