World's First Fully LNG-Powered Cruise Ship Delivered in Germany

Photo: Meyer Werft

Carnival Corporation has taken delivery of the world’s first cruise ship to be fully powered by cleaner-burning liquified natural gas both at sea and in port.

The ship, AIDAnova, joins the fleet of AIDA Cruises, Germany’s leading cruise line. Delivery took place Wednesday during a celebration in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Constructed by Meyer Werft at its Papenburg shipyard, the 183,000 GRT AIDAnova is also largest cruise ship ever constructed in Germany.

With LNG propulsion, AIDAnova is among the most environmentally-friendly cruise ships in the world. Its four low-emission dual fuel engines, provided by Caterpillar, can run 100% on LNG both at sea and in port. The engine room unit with the modern power station supplying energy for all the ship and hotel operations was made at NEPTUN WERFT in Warnemünde.

“By making history as the first cruise ship to be powered in port and at sea by LNG, AIDAnova underscores Carnival Corporation’s longtime role as an industry leader in developing innovative solutions for sustainability, including the environmental technology breakthrough of making its Advanced Air Quality Systems (AAQS) highly functional in the small confines of a cruise ship. Its pioneering Advanced Air Quality Systems, generically known as exhaust gas cleaning systems, are installed on 71 of the company’s more than 100 ships,” Carnival Corp. said in a statement.

“In addition, over 40 percent of the company’s fleet has “cold ironing” capabilities, enabling ships to use shoreside electric power where available while in port. The company has also implemented broad initiatives to optimize onboard energy usage and innovative hull designs and coatings to reduce fuel consumption by minimizing frictional drag.”

AIDAnova is the first of three new ships ordered for the AIDA brand. Delivery next two ships are scheduled at the end of 2021 and 2023. It also the fourth new ship to be delivered to Carnival Corporation in 2018. The Miami-based cruise giant has six other ships on order at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, including LNG-powered ships for Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises. Across all its brands, Carnival Corporation has a total 20 new ships on order, including 10 LNG-powered ships, with expected delivery dates before 2025.

“AIDAnova is a milestone for our company and the entire cruise industry,” said Michael Thamm, group CEO of Carnival Corporation’s Costa Group – which includes AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises – and Carnival Asia. “With Carnival Corporation pioneering LNG technology, we start a new era of environmentally friendly cruising. It’s important now that the respective infrastructure will be further developed as more and more cruise lines are following our example.”

Following its handover, AIDAnova set sail for the Canary Islands for its inaugural cruise out of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.