German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has unveiled the name of the first ship of AIDA Cruises’ first generation liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered cruise ships – AIDAnova.
The cruise company earlier said that the newbuilding will be the world’s first cruise ship that can be run completely on LNG.
“With the ‘Green Cruising’ concept, AIDA Cruises will be the first cruise shipping company in the world with the capability to operate its new generation of ships using 100% LNG,” the company said.
The first steel for the new 180,000 gross ton vessel was cut in February 2017. Its keel laying will take place in September 2017 at the Papenburg yard, and its undocking is scheduled for August 2018.
AIDAnova, which will be the 13th member in AIDA’s fleet, will be traveling Madeira and the Canary Islands for seven-day cruises from December 2018 in its first season.
AIDA Cruises ordered the ship in summer 2015, as part of a deal for two next-generation cruise ships.