German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has cut the first steel for the next cruise ship for AIDA Cruises.
The steel cutting ceremony was held in Papenburg on August 15, marking the start of production of the new cruise vessel.
The newbuild will be fitted with an environmentally-friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion system, like its sister ship AIDAnova which was delivered in late 2018.
As informed, the delivery is planned for spring 2021. Meyer Werft will deliver another vessel in this class to AIDA Cruises in 2023.
“We are very pleased to work with AIDA Cruises and Carnival Corporation at further establishing LNG as a fuel in the cruise industry. We will also be implementing other innovative technologies on board this ship,” Stephan Schmees, Executive Board Member Project Management Ships at Meyer Werft, said.
With a length of 337 meters and a width of 42 meters, the new ship for AIDA Cruises will have a capacity for around 2,600 cabins, with a rating of 183,900 GT.
The new generation of ships for AIDA Cruises uses LNG engines which fulfill the strictest environmental regulations. This class of ships has been developed and designed with a focus on energy efficiency, according to Meyer Werft.
Since 2000, every ship built for AIDA Cruises, including AIDAnova, has “cold ironing” or shore power capabilities – being able to connect directly into the land-based electrical grid while in port where the infrastructure is available. With “cold ironing,” the air emissions are managed and regulated under the emission control requirements at the power plant supplying the port.
AIDA Cruises is also exploring the use of fuel cells, batteries and liquefied gas from renewable sources in cruising. The company plans to test the first fuel cell on board an AIDA ship as early as 2021.
By 2023, 94% of all AIDA passengers will travel on ships fully operated with low-emission LNG or, where possible, shore power while in port, as explained by the cruise company.
AIDAnova Gets Blue Angel Award
Only a few days ago, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAnova has been awarded with Blue Angel certification for excellence in environmentally-friendly ship design.
Being the pioneer in the company’s next-generation class, AIDAnova features several innovative approaches to “green cruising,” including being the first cruise ship capable of being powered in port or at sea by LNG.
AIDAnova has thus become the first cruise ship to earn this prestigious designation from Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.