AIDAnova completes first LNG bunkering during maiden call at Tenerife

The world’s first LNG-powered cruise ship, AIDAnova owned by AIDA Cruises has made its maiden call at the new cruise terminal in Santa Cruz de Tenerife where it completed the first LNG bunkering operation. 

The vessel took on the first guests onboard in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Wednesday, December 19, for the premiere cruise around the Canary Islands and Madeira, AIDA Cruises said in a statement.

The world’s first cruise ship that can be powered at the port and at sea with low-emission liquefied natural gas had previously arrived in Tenerife on December 18 to be fueled with LNG for the first time for its premiere season.

The Shell LNG tanker Cardissa supplied the ship with liquefied natural gas.

With four dual-fuel engines and three gas tanks on board, it is the first cruise ship in the world that can be powered at port and at sea with liquefied natural gas.

In 2021 and 2023, two additional ships from this new AIDA generation will join the AIDA fleet. In less than five years, more than half of all AIDA guests will be traveling on board ships that are either fully or partially powered with liquefied natural gas, the company said.