Shore power charging cruise first for Germany

The double call of AIDAsol and AIDAmar in Rostock-Warnemünde, enabled both ships to reduce emissions and noise by turning-off the engines at the same time.

“We are delighted by this successful shore power premiere in Rostock-Warnemünde. Thanks to the opening of further shore power facilities in European ports, we will be able to expand our commitment this year,” said Felix Eichhorn, president AIDA Cruises.

”Our goal is to be able to use shore power in all ports in the future. We therefore welcome the decisions of other ports to develop a corresponding solution.”

Increased uptake

In 2021, the first shore power facility for cruise ships opened in the Baltic Sea region opened with AIDAsol in Rostock-Warnemünde.

With a capacity of up to 20 megavolt amperes (MVA), two cruise ships can be supplied with electricity at the same time in Warnemünde at berths P7 and P8.

For AIDA, the use of shore power to supply energy to its cruise ships is making an important contribution to reducing emissions to almost zero while ships are docked in port. 

More than ten years have now passed since Europe’s first shore power plant started its regular operations with an AIDA ship in Hamburg Altona, Germany.

AIDA Cruises has been investing in a sustainable cruising for many years. The company is now further expanding the use of alternative energy sources such as shore power and the usage of battery systems to operate its cruise ships.

In addition, the company is intensively working on solutions for the usage of regenerative or synthetic fuels jointly with various partners.

AIDA Cruises said it aspires to achieve carbon-neutral ship operation for its fleet by 2050.