Shell to Supply LNG for AIDA Cruises Ships

AIDA Cruises, a brand of the Carnival Corporation & plc, and energy company Shell sealed their partnership for the future supply of LNG to AIDAprima and its sistership AIDAperla anent AIDAprima’s first docking in Rotterdam on April 19, 2016.

AIDAprima is the world’s first cruise ship which can be operated with liquefied natural gas (LNG) while docked in port resulting in major reduction in emissions. The LNG supply to AIDAprima will be ensured by LNG truck, the companies said.

Using LNG is expected to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent.

“We believe in LNG as being the cleanest fossil fuel!” says Felix Eichhorn, President AIDA Cruises. “In Shell, we have a strong global partner who will forge a new path with us in establishing LNG within the maritime industry. With the supply of LNG to AIDAprima when she is docked, we are setting a clear trend in terms of environmental and climate protection.”

AIDAprima can be operated with LNG while docked at port in all ports along the Metropolitan route.

According to the ship’s owner, the preparations and initial permit procedures for the ports of Hamburg, Southampton, Le Havre, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge are already well underway.

AIDA Cruises said that it would begin test operations in the first ports in as early as the coming weeks.

AIDAprima, recently delivered from Japanese builder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has just reached its homeport of Hamburg earlier today. A video showing the ship’s arrival is posted below:

The company’s second ship of the series, AIDAperla is under construction at MHI, slated for delivery in 2017.

Image and Video courtesy: AIDA Cruises