On August 15, 2019, the first steel cut took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg for the sister ship of AIDAnova, a world’s first cruise ship that is fully powered with liquefied natural gas (LNG).
With the official start of construction for the second ship of this innovative AIDA ship generation to be put into service in spring 2021, the company is continuing its course and making a further contribution to reduced emissions in cruising. As early as 2023, the third LNG cruise ship of AIDA Cruises, “Made in Germany,” will set sail. Through the use of LNG emissions of particulate matter and sulfur oxides are almost completely eliminated, nitrogen oxide and CO2 emissions are sustainably reduced.
AIDA President Felix Eichhorn said, “By 2023, around half of all AIDA guests will be sailing on our state-of-the-art LNG ships that stand apart with many further technical innovations for greater efficiency, less fuel consumption and conserved resources. At the same time, we are offering our guests on board our ships an extraordinary variety of individual vacation options, innovative entertainment and culinary concepts that provide lasting impulses to the vacation market in Germany.”
With an investment of around two billion euros just for the construction of both ships in Germany, the company is contributing to the economy and to the creation of secure jobs in the shipbuilding and maritime supply industry.
AIDA Cruises is also a trailblazer in many other areas that contribute to the energy transition. By the end of 2020, twelve of fourteen AIDA ships will be equipped for shoreside energy from renewable sources. Parallel to this, AIDA Cruise is currently exploring the use of fuel cells, batteries and liquefied gas from renewable sources in cruising. The company plans to test the first fuel cell unit on board an AIDA vessel in 2021.
Technical data:
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg (Germany)
First steel cut: August 15, 2019
Commissioning: Spring 2021
Length: 337 meters
Width: 42 meters
Max. draft: 8.80 m
Gross tonnage: 183,900 GT
Decks: 20
Number of staterooms: 2,600
Crew: approx. 1,500