Last Friday, April 26, the AIDAnova visited the port of Barcelona, where the plaque exchange ceremony took place. The AIDAnova is the world's first cruise ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel in the world, which will reduce emissions in ports and at sea thanks to its dual-fuel engines.
With the application of the latest technologies at AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises, the Costa Group, together with its sister brands in the global portfolio of Carnival Corporation, has become an industry benchmark in terms of promoting and developing sustainable and environmental solutions.
“On the AIDAnova, we have managed to unify a wide variety of products thanks to exceptional enthusiasm and creativity. We are very proud to operate the most environmentally friendly cruise ship and will continue on this path,” commented Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA, who, along with Captain Boris Becker, welcomed representatives of national institutions and personalities from the industry and tourism sectors to the ship.
In addition to using LNG fuel for cruise ships, the Costa Group and Carnival Corporation as a whole have positioned themselves as industry leaders by pioneering the use of the Advanced Air Quality System (AAQS) in areas near their ships. Considered a milestone for environmental protection, the AAQS is now installed on more than 70 percent of the ships in the Costa Group and Carnival Corporation fleet. The use of LNG and the implementation of the AAQS play a fundamental role in improving the Group's marine operations.
In this respect, the Port of Barcelona's commitment to developing infrastructure that allows LNG-powered ships to dock is key, enabling it to become the largest port to allow ships to refuel with this fuel – currently the cleanest available in the world. Thanks to an agreement with Shell, the AIDAnova will be able to refuel with LNG regularly in the Spanish metropolis.
“We are delighted to welcome the AIDAnova to Barcelona,” said Francesco Muglia, Managing Director for Spain and Portugal at Costa Cruises. “This ship and the Costa Smeralda, which we will add to our fleet in October, demonstrate the Costa Group’s strong commitment to sustainability and technology .”
Until November 2019, AIDAnova will operate seven-day Mediterranean itineraries with stops in some of the most popular destinations for German guests, such as Civitavecchia (Rome), La Spezia (Florence), Marseille, and Barcelona. Starting today, April 26, 2019, AIDAnova will begin refueling with Liquefied Natural Gas in Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Costa Cruises' new flagship, the Costa Smeralda, will arrive in Barcelona on October 30th. The ship will be christened in Savona on November 3rd and will depart the following day on a six-day inaugural cruise with stops in Barcelona, Marseille, and Civitavecchia (Rome). The ship will continue sailing the Western Mediterranean until April 2021, offering week-long itineraries with stops in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia (Rome), La Spezia (Florence), Savona, and Marseille.
