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World Ports Conference Hamburg: AIDA President Michael Ungerer takes a stand for the expansion of port infrastructure

Onoccasion of this year's World Ports Conference in Hamburg Michael Ungerer,President of AIDA Cruises and Chairman of Cruise Association CLIA, spoke torepresentatives of the main port cities in the world on June 4th, 2015.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Ungerertalked about the development of the cruise industry in the German market andeconomic impacts of this increasingly important industry. He focusedparticularly on the port of Hamburg, which has become one of the leading cruisedestinations in Northern Europe. He also presented the opportunities andchallenges associated with the growth of the cruise industry.

"The demand for cruises continues. Between 2014and 2017 the capacity of German cruise lines will grow by 42.9 %. By 2016 wewant to reach the 2 million mark in Germany and there may also be a furthermillion guests on top in the upcoming 3 to 4 years," said Ungerer. However,this can only be achieved, if all responsible parties start to think about thenecessary requirements today. "The existing infrastructures of the Year2015 will not be sufficient for this," Ungerer underlines.

Anotherkey issue in the cooperation between cruise companies and ports is thecontinuous improvement of environmental performance.

"Sustainablemanagement and the consistent protection of the environment are the guaranteefor being able to successfully offer cruises in the future," said Ungerer.

Overall,AIDA Cruises will invest around 100 million euros in environmental and climateprotection until 2016 and thus bring new technologies like a comprehensiveexhaust gas treatment system, onshore power supply and LNG operation on theroad. With this pilot project for the energy supply of cruise ships using LNGwhile being berthed in ports, which is thus far unique worldwide, AIDA Cruisesand Becker Marine Systems have opened a new chapter for environmentalprotection in the port of Hamburg on May 30, 2015.

Rostock, June 4, 2015

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