Carnival Corporation's AIDA Cruises Brand Presents Latest Sustainability Report: World's First LNG-Operated Cruise Ship, AIDAnova, Commissioned in 2018
After 10 years of research and development,
By 2023, two more of these innovative ships will take to the oceans for
"As Germany's market leader for cruises, we accept the ecological and social challenges that we face both now and in the future, and we are taking responsibility. Today we are already exploring together with our partners the use of fuel cells, batteries or liquefied gas from renewable sources in the cruise industry. We are committed to both the
Overview of the key facts:
Use of LNG:
AIDA has already been engaging in research into and development of the use of LNG in the cruise industry for over 10 years.
With AIDAnova's launch at the end of 2018, the company commissioned the world's first cruise ship that can be operated entirely with low-emission LNG both at sea and in port. Two more of these innovative AIDA ships will be commissioned in 2021 and 2023 respectively. Thanks to the use of LNG, emissions of particulates and sulfur oxides are eliminated almost completely, while emissions of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide are sustainably reduced. At present, AIDAnova is sailing in the Western Mediterranean, and is supplied with LNG every 14 days in
Leading the cruise industry's use of LNG to power cruise ships,
Use of shore power: All AIDA ships built since 2000 (12 ships) will be equipped for shore power connection.
On average, an AIDA ship spends 40% of its operating time in port. Shore power is therefore an important subject for
As early as 2004, with the commissioning of AIDAdiva,
Ten ships of the AIDA fleet are currently equipped with a shore power connection or are technically prepared for it. All AIDA ships built from 2000 onward (12 ships) will be able to use shore power by the end of 2020.
To ensure that the eco-friendly shore power technology aboard AIDA ships can be used more extensively in the future, port infrastructures need to be developed. In 2018
Advanced Air Quality Systems: Nine ships already equipped.
For all AIDA ships that cannot be entirely powered by LNG, Advanced Air Quality Systems developed by
In 2013, as part of an investment program,
AIDA set a company goal of equipping all ships in the existing fleet (except AIDAcara) that cannot be entirely powered by LNG in this way to improve air quality.
Thanks to these systems, emissions of particulate matter and sulfur oxide can be significantly reduced, while emissions of unburned hydrocarbons are proportionally less and emissions of nitrous oxide are lower when compared to marine gas oil emissions. These systems are being successfully deployed in the global travel regions and/or ports
As of
Next technological leap: First practical trial of fuel cells aboard an AIDA ship planned as early as 2021.
As part of its Green Cruising Strategy, for instance, AIDA is exploring the possibility of CO2-free production of liquefied gas from renewable sources ("Power to gas" project) or the use of fuel cells and batteries for cruise ships. Within the scope of the "Pa-X-ell 2" project (promoted by
Fuel in use:
The use of low-sulfur fuels has already been a reality in many of
After 10 years of research and development, the exclusive use of low-emission LNG on a cruise ship became a reality as well with the launch of AIDAnova at the end of 2018.
Avoidance of plastic and disposable items:
The reduction and, ideally, complete elimination of plastic and disposable items is a key element of
Many beverages are produced directly aboard the AIDA ships and/or are not purchased in bottles but in special large-volume beverage containers. Plastic straws have been replaced aboard AIDA ships with straws made of biodegradable starch. Furthermore, straws are not automatically provided with every beverage but only with cocktails or at the guest's request. Wherever disposable cutlery or cocktail sticks remain unavoidable, these are made of wood. Items served with coffee, such as cookies, come without wrapping. AIDA guests enjoy their coffees "to go" from reusable cups rather than disposable plastic cups.
In staterooms and bathrooms, AIDA has dispensed with the use of plastic bags in garbage bins. Laundry bags in the stateroom closets are made of compostable starch, while freshly dry-cleaned items are returned to guests' staterooms without a plastic cover.
With regard to the remaining disposable items such as paper napkins,
Avoiding food waste:
Thanks to a wide range of initiatives, both large and small scale,
Naturally, food is prepared fresh and sustainably aboard all AIDA ships – not only for all guests, but also for the crew. AIDA is eager to ensure that no endangered animal species find their way onto the menu, and that wherever possible foodstuffs should be unprocessed, avoiding convenience products. This alone avoids a huge quantity of packaging waste.
Since the first AIDA ship was commissioned over 20 years ago, AIDA kitchens have been working with what is known as the "cook and chill" system. This means that prepared food is only delivered to the restaurants if it is actually needed. All other food remains refrigerated. Since 2016, the brand's entire fleet has been working with the so-called buffet runner system where the staff at the buffet restaurants use their mobile end device to place an order directly with the main kitchen. There, only the food that is actually required at that moment is prepared and delivered. This system is also used, incidentally, in the crew restaurants.
Many of the dishes at the buffet restaurants are prepared fresh at live cooking stations or offered in small individual portions. If guests enjoy the dish, they are free to help themselves to more, rather than sending food back. Table beverages are served not in bottles but in glass carafes. As the restaurants come up to closing time, the range of foods available is not reduced, but rather the size of the serving dishes at the buffet stations. All accumulated waste, including food scraps, is regularly measured aboard the AIDA ships, and steps to further reduce it are developed on an ongoing basis.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Together, the corporation's cruise lines operate 103 ships with 243,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 19 new ships scheduled to be delivered through 2025. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the
With a long history of innovation and providing guests with extraordinary vacation experiences,
Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com, and www.cunard.com.
SOURCE
Roger Frizzell, Carnival Corporation, rfrizzell@carnival.com, (305) 406-7862; Mike Flanagan, LDWW, mike@ldwwgroup.com, (727) 452-4538