Image credit: AIDA Cruises

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Genoa-headquartered Costa Group, responsible for ships operating under the brands Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia, has signed a declaration of intent on the joint promotion of eco-friendly cruise tourism in the German port of Kiel, where AIDA Cruises will be supporting the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein, the Federal State capital Kiel and the Seaport of Kiel in a number of bunker-related initiatives.

The core points of the partnership between Costa and the aforementioned entities include the construction of a shoreside power plant by Seehafen Kiel on the Ostseekai (Baltic Quay); the use of LNG while AIDA Cruises ships are in port; and the use of exhaust gas cleaning systems, or 'scrubbers'.

A study of the seaport of Kiel - with AIDA Cruises as the industry partner - is to investigate the direct and indirect effects of the cruise industry.

The study is intended to help identify potential activities by cruise tourism and maritime service providers that can generate greater local and regional value.

Next year, the AIDAprima is set to be the first ship to call at Kiel that can be supplied with LNG while docked.

AIDA Cruises will also be fitting out two other cruise ships, the AIDAbella and AIDAluna, with shoreside power connections.

The shoreside power connection on the Ostseekai will have a connected load of 12 MW and will be able to supply ships with an onboard power supply with a frequency of 50 Hz and 60 Hz.

Furthermore, in addition to being able to bunker its ships with LNG or use shoreside power while docked in port, AIDA Cruises also intends to deploy cruise ships in Kiel that are fitted with scrubbers.

The aim is for trial operations to begin in Kiel next year.

Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director of Seehafen Kiel, remarked: "Shoreside power in the cruise industry is a challenge. However, with AIDA Cruises we have found a viable basis for tackling this issue that complements the powering of ships with LNG. We want to set new standards together."

Kiel's mayor, Ulf Kampfer, said: "For cruise ships to be accepted in Kiel it is important that other cruise companies also devote themselves more to the issues of the environment and sustainability. First liquefied natural gas and soon shoreside power on the Ostseekai for AIDA ships - that is exactly the signal we want to send out for the future of the port of Kiel. And it also fits perfectly with the seaport of Kiel's Blue Port concept that has just been drawn up."

Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group & Carnival Asia, said: "Sustainability, regional value creation and innovation are integral to our activities... I am firmly convinced that this kind of partnership will have a beacon effect for other ports in Germany and in Europe."