Three Mediterranean ports are providing LNG refuelling opportunities for an AIDA Cruises vessel as part of an LNG initiative.
AIDA Cruises has formed an agreement with the Ports of Barcelona (Spain), Marseille (France) and Civitavecchia (Italy), for its AIDAperla vessel to be supplied with LNG via a truck while docked. The company is also currently in discussion with authorities in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) for the same facility.
The agreement could play an important role in helping the ports improve air quality and reduce emissions as part of their environmental initiatives.
Reduced emissions
With the use of LNG to supply onboard power, the emission of nitrogen oxides is reduced by up to 80% and carbon dioxide emissions are cut by a further 20%. Particulate matter and sulfur oxides are almost entirely eliminated.
On average, a cruise ship spends 40% of its operating time docked in port and AIDAperla’s dual-fuel engine means it is well placed to take advantage of the arrangement.
The cruise company already tested the practical application of this technology in early 2016 with AIDAperla's twin ship AIDAprima, which became the first cruise ship to routinely use LNG while in port.
LNG provision
AIDAprima was first fuelled with LNG at the Port of Hamburg. Following this, operations were also possible in the ports of Southampton (UK), Le Havre (France), Zeebrugge (Belgium) and Rotterdam (Netherlands).
In AIDAprima's current cruise region, around the Canaries and Madeira, AIDA Cruises is working with local partners to organize the ship's LNG supply in Funchal (Madeira, Portugal).
With the commissioning of AIDAnova in Autumn 2018, AIDA Cruises will be able to operate its new generation of ships entirely with LNG – both in port and at sea. A second, twin ship will reinforce the AIDA fleet from early 2021.
