Content Section

Groundbreaking partnership for sustainable cruise tourism in Schleswig-Holstein

(Kiel, April 26, 2018) The Federal State ofSchleswig-Holstein, the Federal State capital Kiel, the Seaport of Kiel and theCosta Group came together on Thursday, April 26, 2018, aboard the cruise ship"AIDAluna" to set out the ways in which they will be stepping up their existingcollaboration. Their objective is to further develop the maritime infrastructure,the economy, and tourism in northern Germany sustainably and to make themfuture-proof.

Daniel Günther, the Minister-President of the Federal Stateof Schleswig-Holstein, Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Gruppe & CarnivalAsia, Dr. Ulf Kämpfer, Mayor of the Federal State capital Kiel, and Dr. DirkClaus, Managing Director Seehafen Kiel, signed a Declaration of Intent on thejoint promotion of environmentally-friendly cruise tourism in the Seaport ofKiel, in the presence of Federal State Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr. BerndBuchholz, Federal State Secretary of the Environment, Tobias Goldschmidt, andAIDA President Felix Eichhorn. For the Costa Group's part, AIDA Cruises willsupport the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein, the Federal State capital Kieland the Seaport of Kiel with a diverse array of initiatives. The core points ofthe agreement include the construction of a shoreside power plant by SEEHAFENKIEL on the Ostseekai (Baltic Quay), the use of low-emission liquefied naturalgas to operate AIDA Cruises cruise ships while they are stay in port, and theuse of modern exhaust gas cleaning systems.

Minister-President Daniel Günther: "With this Declaration ofIntent we have taken a big step towards making cruise tourism in the north bothmore future-proof and environmentally-friendlier." The Federal State intends tofinancially support the planned construction of the shoreside power plant onthe Ostseekai and will be examining grant options. "We will also continue toadvocate at federal level for the prorated exemption of shoreside power plantsfrom the levy imposed under the German Renewable Energies Act," the head of theFederal State government said.

Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group & Carnival Asia: "Sustainability,regional value creation and innovation are integral to our activities. We arevery pleased that we are able to support the Federal State ofSchleswig-Holstein and the City of Kiel in making cruise tourismforward-looking and sustainable. I am firmly convinced that this kind ofpartnership will have a beacon effect for other ports in Germany and inEurope." In 2019 "AIDAprima" will be the first ship to call at the port of Kielthat can be supplied with liquefied natural gas (LNG) while in docked in portin the Baltic region. Furthermore, AIDA Cruises will be fitting out two othercruise ships – "AIDAbella" and "AIDAluna" with shoreside power connections. Theaim is that trial operations will begin in Kiel already in 2019. In addition,AIDA Cruises intends that, apart from ships that can be supplied withlow-emission LNG or shoreside power while docked in port, it will also deploycruise ships in the Seaport of Kiel that are fitted with modern exhaust gascleaning systems.

Federal State Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr. BerndBuchholz: "This is an important step for the widespread acceptance of cruise tourismin Kiel, but also for the cruise company itself because the ships' carbonfootprints will increasingly affect guests' booking behavior. AIDA is onceagain a technological pioneer in this area because the fleet's new-builds arealready fitted with LNG-powered generators."

Federal State Secretary of the Environment, TobiasGoldschmidt: "We want to reduce air pollution in ports and their immediateenvirons by means of various measures. There are already alternatives toconventional on-board power generation with marine diesel, but they are notused on cost grounds. Support measures are required to change that. Apart fromthe previously mentioned financial support for the provision of the necessaryinfrastructure in the ports and the prorated exemption of shoreside power fromthe levy imposed under the German Renewable Energies Act, these measures mostnotably also include a port charges structure that favors low-emissionalternatives. We have furthermore already called on the Federal Government toliaise with the EU Commission on uniform environmental standards – such asmaximum values for sulfur content in ship fuels (SECA standards) – in theterritorial waters of the Member States. In addition, the foreseen designationof the Baltic, North Sea and English Channel as a NOx (nitrogen oxides)Emission Control Area (NECA) should be expanded to all EU waters."

Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director of Seehafen Kiel: "Shoresidepower in the cruise industry is a challenge. However, with AIDA Cruises we havefound a viable basis for tackling this issue that complements the powering ofships with LNG. We want to set new standards together." The shoreside powerconnection on the Ostseekai will have a connected load of 12 MW and will beable to supply ships whose on-board power supply has a frequency of 50 Hz and60 Hz. Kiel's Mayor Ulf Kämpfer is particularly pleased about the commitmentthat the Costa Group and AIDA Cruises are making: "Ship exhaust is often alsomentioned in the debate on air pollutants from diesel vehicles on Kiel's roads.For cruise ships to be accepted in Kiel it is important that other cruisecompanies also devote themselves more to the issues of the environment andsustainability. First liquefied natural gas and soon shoreside power on theOstseekai for AIDA ships – that is exactly the signal we want to send out forthe future of the port of Kiel. And it also fits perfectly with the seaport ofKiel's Blue Port concept that has just been drawn up." Mayor Kämpfer also thanksthe Costa Group and AIDA Cruises for their support of the "Kieler Woche" whichhas also just been agreed. The new event sponsor, AIDA Cruises, will be gettinginvolved in a number of ways including presenting the closing fireworks at the "KielerWoche".

A study of the seaport of Kiel with AIDA Cruises as the industrypartner will be investigating the direct and indirect effects of the cruiseindustry. The study is intended to help identify potential and activities forgreater local and regional value creation by cruise tourism and maritimeservice providers.

Kiel/Rostock, April 26, 2018

Kaleidoscope powered