Last April we had the opportunity to visit the AIDAnova in the Port of Barcelona, the first cruise ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas, the cleanest fossil fuel in the world.
Article from CruisesNews magazine, issue 49 – June 2019
AIDAnova, dubbed the green cruise ship, is the first ship of the new Helios class and was put into service in December 2018. The 337-meter-long vessel, with 20 decks and 2,500 cabins, was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.
The ship offers guests of all ages a relaxed and informal atmosphere with a varied daily program of sports and entertainment that makes time on board fly by. If you prefer a quieter pace or simply need some peace and quiet, you'll always find a peaceful spot to read a good book or enjoy a delicious cocktail.
Gastronomy is also a key focus for Aida Cruises. With a total of 17 restaurants, the AIDAnova offers a wide culinary variety. Guests can find everything from gourmet restaurants and a burger joint to an open-air beer garden and even a new and exotic Japanese bar.
As with most ships in the Aida Cruises fleet, the heart of onboard entertainment is the Theatrium, a 360-degree theater where you can enjoy many of the cruise line's own productions. This is a multi-purpose space: singers, dancers, and top-notch performers offer thrilling evening entertainment. Meanwhile, in the mornings and early afternoons, there are activities planned for the whole family. Other notable onboard entertainment options include the television production studio Studio X, the Mystery Room (a fun and enigmatic escape room at sea), and the Time Machine Restaurant, a dining experience through time where reality and fantasy intertwine.
The ship also features a large sports area with fitness equipment and group classes, open 24 hours a day. After your workout, you can relax in one of the five saunas or jacuzzis at the Body & Soul Organic Spa.
green cruise
ship, will operate both in port and at sea using low-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG). Particulate matter and sulfur oxide emissions are almost entirely eliminated, while nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions are significantly reduced. Two of the fuel tanks are each approximately 35 meters long, 8 meters in diameter, and have a capacity of 1,550 cubic meters. A third, smaller tank, 5 meters in diameter, is 28 meters long and has a capacity of approximately 520 cubic meters. Along with other innovative systems such as heat recovery and smart energy management, the ship is working to further reduce its carbon footprint.
They feature more efficient engines and gas scrubbers that reduce marine diesel emissions
For Neil Palomba, CEO of Costa Crociere SpA, which, together with AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia, makes up the Costa Group, “LNG is a major advance in fuel technology and with its use, the Costa Group, a leader in Europe and China, continues working to make sustainable tourism a fundamental part of its leadership in the industry.”.
It has been more than 10 years since Carnival Corporation and AIDA Cruises began investing in LNG propulsion technology. Two more ships of this new generation of AIDA vessels will join the AIDA fleet in 2021 and 2023. Carnival Corporation is at the forefront of the industry in adopting LNG, with a significant order for "green" cruise ships scheduled for delivery between 2019 and 2025. In addition to the two ships mentioned above, two ships have been ordered for Costa Cruises with delivery dates scheduled for 2019 (Costa Smeralda) and 2021, two for P&O Cruises UK with delivery dates scheduled for 2020 and 2022, and two for Carnival Cruise Line with delivery dates scheduled for 2020 and 2022. The liquefied natural gas supplier is Shell Western LNG BV (Shell).
Barcelona: A Strategic Hub for LNG Development.
One of the Port of Barcelona's main challenges is to advance towards environmental sustainability and attract the most modern and therefore least polluting ships. In the words of Mercè Conesa, president of the port authority, "58% of the cruise ships that dock in the Catalan capital are less than 10 years old." This data suggests that the ships docking at the Port, even if they are not liquefied gas powered, have more advanced engines and filters that reduce the impact of diesel fuel.
The Port of Barcelona estimates that liquefied natural gas (LNG) reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 80%, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 40%, and eliminates sulfur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions. Another initiative by the Port of Barcelona is the implementation of an ambitious environmental incentive program for ship fees, designed to encourage the arrival of cleaner ferries, cruise ships, and cargo vessels.
Liquefied Natural Gas eliminates emissions of sulfur oxides and particulate matter
