AIDAprima refueled with 100 percent biofuel for the first time
As part of its Green Cruising strategy, the cruise company AIDA Cruises has reached another important milestone in the gradual decarbonization of shipping.
On December 8, 2022, AIDAprima was supplied with 100 percent biofuel in the port of Rotterdam (Netherlands) for the first time. The company is thus continuing its successful collaboration with the Dutch biofuel pioneer GoodFuels.
"With the use of biofuels, we are demonstrating that the decarbonization of ships already in service is possible. The biggest challenge for the entire shipping industry is their availability on an industrial scale and at marketable prices," said AIDA President Felix Eichhorn.
Back in July of this year, AIDA Cruises became the first company in the industry to start using so-called "drop-in" biofuels on board of a big cruise ship. On July 21, 2022, AIDAprima was supplied with a blend of sustainable marine biofuel and marine gas oil (MGO) from GoodFuels.
The innovative biofuel is derived from raw materials that are 100 percent certified as waste or residual, and thus do not consume agricultural land for food production or cause deforestation.
In addition to continuously expanding the use of sustainably produced fuels, AIDA Cruises has been investing in researching and deploying green technologies and increasing the energy efficiency of its fleet to further reduce fuel consumption for many years. This year, the currently largest battery storage system in the cruise industry with a capacity of 10 megawatt hours was installed on board AIDAprima and the use of shore power was expanded in Europe for a virtually emission-free ship operation during port stays.
Together with partners from science, business, and politics the company is developing further innovative solutions on the way to net-carbon-neutral ship operation in various national and international research projects. Treating the environment and its natural resources with care is another elementary pillar of AIDA's commitment to sustainability.
With these and many other measures, the company is actively contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the climate goals of Paris and the European Green Deal with its "Fit for 55" program. As part of Carnival Corporation & plc's family of cruise brands, AIDA Cruises has committed to reducing the carbon intensity of its fleet by 20 percent compared to its 2019 baseline by 2030 and aims to achieve net-carbon-neutral ship operations by 2050.
