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AIDA Cruises achieves positive sustainability result in 2015

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AIDA Cruises, a pioneer in theGerman cruise industry when it comes to sustainability, successfully continuedin its commitment to reduce emissions in 2015.

“We have once again achievedimportant milestones in environmental protection. Since 2015, AIDAsol is thefirst cruise ship in the world to be supplied with power from low-emissionliquefied gas, supplied by the LNG Hybrid Barge in the port of Hamburg. Otherships in the AIDA fleet received the first installations of the comprehensivefilter system to reduce waste gas. Together with atmosfair, we have launched aclimate protection program to reduce CO₂ emissions. And as a newmember of the 2° Foundation, we also sent a clear signal in terms of climateprotection at the World Climate Conference in Paris, among other places,” saidDr. Monika Griefahn, Chief Sustainability Officer at AIDA Cruises.

AIDA Cruises is consistentlycontinuing on its course towards sustainability. In 2015, the company announcedthe order for two new ships of the latest AIDA ship generation from Meyer Werftshipyard in Papenburg. The two ships, which will be commissioned in 2019 and2020, will be the first cruise liners in the world to be 100 percent operatedwith LNG under the Green Cruising concept.

“To us, economic success andsustainable action are not mutually opposed – quite the opposite: This is thebasis for long-term success. AIDA is a trailblazer in terms of climateprotection in the cruise industry, not least in its use of liquefied naturalgas (LNG) as low-emission fuel,” Dr. Griefahn continued.

The use of LNG is already areality today at AIDA. Since May 30, 2015, AIDAsol has been supplied with powergenerated from LNG during the time spent at the Hamburg Cruise TerminalHafenCity, 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 andAIDA Cruises for low-emission power supply of cruise ships, was designed,constructed and commissioned in just three years. There is currently no moreenvironmentally friendly way to supply a cruise ship with power.

Compared to conventional marinediesel with sulfur content of 0.1 percent, the use of LNG leads to a 100percent reduction in the emission of soot particles and sulfur oxides, an 80percent reduction in the emission of nitrogen oxides, and a 20 percentreduction in the emission of CO₂.

AIDAprima, to be put into servicein 2016, and her as yet unnamed sister ship are the first cruise ships in theworld to feature dual-fuel engines. They can thus be operated with LNG in portswhere the necessary infrastructure exists. This is an important step, becausethe average cruise ship spends 40 percent of its operating time in port. Withthe “Green Cruising” concept, the company is going a crucial step further,operating the coming generation of ships in 2019/2020 completely with LNG, asthe world’s first cruise line to do so.

AIDA Cruises started a climateprotection program in 2014 together with the climate protection organizationatmosfair. The cruise company compensates for the CO₂ emission ofall its employees' business trips through climate protection projects byatmosfair, and since March 2015 also offers its guests the opportunity of avoluntary CO₂ compensation for their cruise. As part of a pilotproject and for the supply of its cruise ships in the future, AIDA Cruises istesting the possibility of utilizing LNG that has been produced fully CO₂-freethrough the power-to-gas method with wind or solar power.

Since October 2015, AIDA Cruisesalso supports the 2° Foundation in their work of engaging in dialog withpolicymakers and members of academia in order to establish an effectivemarket-based framework for climate protection and spur German entrepreneurs tocreate solutions in this area. Together with additional representatives frommember companies of the 2° Foundation, Dr. Monika Griefahn sent a signal on theoccasion of the negotiations at the World Climate Conference in Paris,affirming AIDA Cruises' commitment to environmental protection.

More information about thecommitment of AIDA Cruises to the environment and society can be found atwww.aida.de/aidacares.

Rostock, January 06, 2015

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