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Innovative technology

Development of alternatives

One of the key challenges in environmental protection is the reduction of emissions – for example sulfur, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. To reduce these emissions even further in the future, we are committed to the development of alternative ways to generate and use power in maritime transport.

It’s full speed ahead in the application of innovative environmental and efficient technologies. As German market leader, we feel we have a particular responsibility to set an example and thus be a technological pioneer.

Exhaust treatment technology

After years of research work in the Carnival Group, we were able to announce a technological breakthrough for exhaust treatment in August 2013. With the upcoming ship generation to be put into service in 2015 and 2016, AIDA Cruises is setting standards for environmental protection. The new ships will receive a comprehensive filter system for reduction of exhaust. With this yet unrivaled technology, we have been able to filter the emissions of soot particles, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides – for the first time and to thereby reduce them between 90 and 99 percent. Simultaneously, we reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 70 percent and emissions of unburned hydrocarbons by 85 percent. This comprehensive filter concept is a milestone for AIDA Cruises and for the cruise industry as a whole.

The concept of the filter:
Developed within the Carnival Group for treating emissions, the system relies on cutting-edge technology with an especially compact design that is revolutionary because it can technically accommodate all relevant treatment processes. Nitrogen oxides are chemically bound in a catalytic converter and soot and fuel residues are precipitated in a filter. The sulfur oxides are removed in a scrubber without any chemicals being added.

We not only want to set standards with our new ships but to continuously improve the eco-balance of our entire fleet. That’s why we will gradually fit our other ships with the new comprehensive filter system as well. AIDAcara, the oldest ship in the AIDA fleet, was prepared for filter installation in October 2013. In total, AIDA Cruises will invest around 100 million euros in environmental and climate protection by 2016. This sum is part of an extensive investment program.

In addition to retrofitting the existing fleet with the new technology, AIDA Cruises relies on further innovative concepts for also reducing emissions during docking times, e.g. through the use of liquefied gas or onshore power.

This film provides an overview of our comprehensive system for exhaust treatment and our primary measures for reducing emissions while ships are docked.

Shoreside power

On average, AIDA ships spend 40% of their operating time in port. They must also have a power supply there so that onboard operations can continue.
In port, shoreside power can represent an environmentally friendly option, as where it is used, fuel no longer needs to be burned for power generation on board. We support ports where genuine possibilities for shoreside power supply are being created. In September 2013, the Senate of Hamburg adopted a resolution for introducing shoreside power in the port of the Hanseatic City and has thereby given the green light for provision of the corresponding infrastructure. We welcome this initiative.
Today, all ships in the AIDA fleet that were put into service from 2007 on have been prepared for supply with shoreside power during laytime. In July 2013, AIDAsol became the first ship of the fleet to be completely equipped for shoreside power. Wherever the infrastructure is available, AIDAsol can be powered now with ecofriendly shoreside power.

For us, it is essential that shoreside power generation for use on AIDA ships be cleaner than generation with the modern systems on board the ships themselves.

LNG Hybrid Barge

As an alternative to shoreside power supply, we teamed up with Becker Marine Systems in 2012 to develop a groundbreaking pilot project for power supply of cruise ships during downtime in the Port of Hamburg. The power required to operate the cruise ship will no longer be generated by the ship’s own diesel engines but by the floating LNG Hybrid Barge with engines from a CHP and generators using liquefied natural gas (LNG). This generated power can be flexibly fed into the supply network of the cruise ship as needed.

In contrast to with the use of traditional marine diesel containing 0.1% sulfur, emissions with power generation using liquefied natural gas on the LNG Hybrid Barge will be significantly reduced: Sulfur oxide emissions and soot particles will be completely eliminated. Nitrogen oxide emissions will be reduced by up to 80% and carbon dioxide emissions by 30%.

With the LNG Hybrid Barge, Becker Marine Systems has provided the technical solution “on the shoreside.” The environmental technology experts at AIDA Cruises supply the necessary know-how for the special requirements of cruise ships and realize the final fittings on AIDA ships. In 2014, AIDAsol is to be the first cruise ship in the world to be supplied with power through an LNG Hybrid Barge at Grasbrook Quay in Hamburg.

BSCM Award 2013 for the LNG Hybrid Barge:
For the innovative concept of the LNG Hybrid Barge, AIDA Cruises and Becker Marine Systems received the Baltic Sea Clean Maritime Award 2013 in the category “environmentally friendly infrastructure development” in the Baltic Sea region. Awarded by the Baltic Sea Forum in collaboration with the European InnoShip project, this prize honors innovative ideas, projects and solutions that contribute to protecting the Baltic Sea as a particularly fragile ecosystem.

The BSCM award promotes projects that contribute to a reduction or prevention of emissions in ship- and port operations in the Baltic Sea region. The LNG Hybrid Barge can be flexibly implemented and thereby contributes to the development of an eco-friendly infrastructure. In addition, emissions are significantly reduced through power generation using liquefied gas. This renders the LNG Hybrid Barge an important contribution to environmental and climate protection in the Baltic Sea region.

Dual-fuel engines

To protect our environment, we are already prepared now for the requirements of tomorrow. With the prospect of expanding onshore infrastructure for use of liquefied gas in future, we are equipping our latest generation of ships to be put into service in 2015 and 2016 with dual-fuel engines already today. These can run on all traditional ship fuels or with liquefied gas. At ports that provide the required infrastructure, we can supply AIDAprima and its sister ship with eco-friendly energy while they are docked.

MALS technology

The new generation of AIDA ships to be put into service in 2015 and 2016 will be the first cruise ships in the world to feature “Mitsubishi Air Lubrication Technologie” (MALS).

The hydro-dynamic optimization of our ships – e.g. through their current-optimized hull design or highly efficient propellers, for instance – plays an important role in saving energy. There is even more scope for savings, however, in the reduction of drag. We use measures such as a silicone paint coating to achieve this. This is something that we have been using on our ships for years now. MALS technology works on the same principle to a certain extent, as it reduces the ship’s drag. It’s the same as when you ski: If you use the right wax, you go faster because there is less friction.

Instead of wax, the MALS technology uses air bubbles. Because air is smoother than the ship’s hull, bubbles create a type of lubricating film. This reduces drag and saves propulsion power. This allows us to reduce our propulsion power, thus cutting fuel consumption by 7%. We now have three liter ships: That means we use just three liters of fuel per person on board per one hundred kilometers. Thanks to the MALS system, we can further reduce this to 2.8 liters.

More information and a video on this can be found at News.

Reduction of fuel consumption

The best ton of fuel is the ton that we don’t use. Fuel consumption per guest and per voyage has been reduced by 23% since 2007.

An AIDA ship today consumes just three liters of fuel per person over 100 kilometers. This was confirmed in a report by independent experts from Germanischer Lloyd in 2012.

For a long time, we have been cruising many routes at a considerably lower speed. This represents another way of saving larger amounts of fuel. Efficient route management and the optimization of scheduling and laytime are also methods of saving substantial amounts of fuel. Propulsion power can also be saved through an improved hull and propeller design. Furthermore, all AIDA ships have an underwater silicone-based coating. This reduces drag during the voyage, thus cutting down on fuel consumption and emissions. It goes without saying that this paint is free from polluting toxins. The silicone paint alone allows us to make propulsion fuel savings of around 3% on our ships every year. The propellers of our ships are regularly polished by divers and the hull is cleaned.

Reducing emissions, preserving resources

One of the biggest challenges in environmental protection is air pollution – for example through emissions of sulfur- and nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. To avoid harmful emissions even more effectively in future, we are committed to developing alternative methods of power generation and utilization in maritime transport, and we invest in new technologies. Ecofriendly treatment of resources, including fuel, is a central aspect here.

The best ton of fuel is the ton that we don’t use. For us, it doesn’t matter which fuel is used but how we can best avoid emissions. In the past few years, a number of technical innovations for alternative modes of power generation for ships have been developed. Today, no one can be certain which will be globally established in the future. That is why AIDA Cruises has invested significant sums so that it will be prepared for all forms of energy generation that are technically available today. In this, we are independent from the supply and flexible.

We support the phase plan of the IMO for reduction of ship emissions. Our motors can already process high-quality fuels such as low-sulfur HFO and marine gas oil (marine diesel). Low-sulfur fuel has been a reality on important routes for many years. In line with the legal regulations for the North- and Baltic Sea, we have only been using low-sulfur fuels since 2010. In all European ports since 2010, engines have been operating exclusively on diesel with a maximum sulfur content of 0.1%. We have been doing this in the Port of Hamburg since 2007. Since August 2012, we have been using fuel with a low-sulfur content of maximum 1.0% along the coast of North America. Sulfur emissions have thus been cut by 90%. This is a tangible result. However, low-sulfur fuel is not available everywhere. According to experts from the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), demand cannot yet be met today. Therefore, the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) has decided to introduce a plan that will be phased in gradually. Refineries will have to update their equipment in order to be able to produce the required amounts.

To efficiently reduce our emissions, AIDA has comprehensively invested in new technologies. With the exhaust treatment, we can reduce our emissions further than as would be possible with low-sulfur fuel alone. To date, this is not available everywhere. The dual-fuel engines in our new ships can run on all traditional ship fuels or in the port with liquefied gas. The use of liquefied gas (LNG) is currently the most eco-friendly solution for ship operation as it is nearly emission-free. LNG does not produce any soot particles or sulfur oxide; in comparison to the use of marine diesel, nitrogen oxide is reduced by 80 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 20 percent. In addition, we have prepared all ships put into service since 2007 for shoreside power and have launched the LNG Hybrid Barge as an alternative concept.

We also save energy with the continuous improvement of processes on board every day. In 2013, for example, we optimized the processes in our laundry facilities - including better use of the machines and improved operation times - and were thereby able to save around one fourth of the required energy. At the same time, we are also reducing CO2 emissions of the laundry facilities by 25 percent.

It has been proven that cruise ships are one of the most efficient means of transport with regard to CO2 emissions. Prof. Dr. Ing. Holger Watter from the Maritime Center at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences is a renowned expert in sustainable power systems. He says: “Just 3% of CO2 emissions are generated by maritime shipping and travel. Ships are the most efficient means of transporting goods and people. They have emission rates that are a fraction of those of other modes of transport (automobile, train, airplane). Maritime ‘power stations’ achieve degrees of efficiency that are above those of shoreside stations.” Furthermore, cruise ships also provide hotel accommodations, catering and infrastructure for leisure activities, as well as simply transport. These additional services are included in the evaluation of power use.

Overall, we are steering the right course in terms of environmental and climate protection. This is shown by our key indicators for energy.

With the launch of our tenth ship, AIDAstella, in 2013, the overall energy consumption of our fleet appears higher than in 2012. However, if the new addition to our fleet is evaluated in the context of our largest ship class, then energy consumption remains the same as the previous year. In terms of increasing environmental friendliness, one major advance we made was in the use of alternative fuels – low-sulfur heavy fuel oil and gas oil with substantially reduced sulfur content.

Waste management on board

Systematic waste management on board is standard practice at AIDA. In preparation for each routing, the disposal options at the individual ports are thoroughly examined. Based on the findings, waste management for each voyage is planned as such that we may use the best available disposal alternative.

Waste separation is a high priority at AIDA. Metal is pressed and glass is broken down to save storage space. Food waste is also compacted to dehydrate it. The result is a biologically degradable substance. At all destinations, AIDA works with the best waste disposal companies. Whenever possible, we use the services of certified waste disposal companies. In Europe, this is the case at all ports. At other destinations where corresponding standards need to be developed first, we select the best available alternative. To ensure that waste is disposed of correctly, our environmental officers visit the waste management companies on site and conduct company audits and inspections.

But however well our waste management system works, it is of course even better to generate as little waste as possible. That is why we’re working on significantly reducing our waste generation per guest and per day.

Many beverages on board AIDA are no longer purchased and offered in bottles but in special beverage containers with large volume capacities. In figures: Each year, 3 million liters of wine are delivered to our ships in reusable containers with a capacity of 1,045 liters rather than in the usual containers. We thereby save the equivalent of 4.2 million wine bottles with 0.75 liters each. Analogous to this, we avoid the following packaging waste: 6 million soft drink bottles with 0.33 liters each, 5.75 million beer bottles with 0.33 liters each, and 800,000 Tetra Packs of fruit juice concentrate with 1 liter each.

It’s often apparently small measures that can take great effect on board in the case of large consumption quantities. For example, we have refrained from using cocktail stirrers for mixing on board since 2013, thereby saving 2,461 mixing spoons and thereby plastic. We have also been able to further reduce our plastic waste on board by switching to plastic wrap that is 10 centimeters narrower.

Waste water treatment

In our Sphinx series membrane biological purification plants, we process waste water until it approaches drinking water quality. We thereby fulfill the Alaska Guidelines. Due to the fragile environmental conditions in Alaska, these are considered to be the strictest guidelines for waste water treatment in marine business. To further improve the quality of our treatment systems, we cooperate with the Testing Institute for Waste Water Technology in Aachen, among other partners. As part of this, technical possibilities for optimizing treatment performance are researched. We want to achieve the new HELCOM threshold values for nitrogen and phosphorus, long before this is required by law, via a pilot project that we launched in 2012.

Each of our ships already has two de-oiling facilities. Within these, separators are used to isolate condensation water (known as bilge water) from any oil residue. Furthermore, we check the oil content of the waste water using a sensor system, known as the White Box. If the internationally applicable threshold value of 15ppm (parts per million) is exceeded, the White Box issues an immediate warning – and the release of bilge water is suspended. The oily sludge filtered out is disposed of onshore via licensed disposal companies audited by us. The following table provides an overview of the various types of waste water and their levels for 2013.

Definition: “Gray water” means waste water containing a low level of contaminants. It can be generated from showers and wash hand basins, for instance. Used water from toilets is called black water. Bilge water is condensation which has accumulated from the engine room and which gathers in what is known as the bilge, the lowest compartment in a ship.

The provisions for protection of the maritime environment are regulated in MARPOL – the IMO (International Maritime Organization) convention. This establishes globally binding regulations and maximum permissible values for all offshore platforms and ships. In addition, special regions for various emissions are defined and stricter values established for these regions. For example, according to the MARPOL directives, there is a ban on untreated waste water disposal within twelve sea miles from the coast. In many areas, AIDA Cruises more than fulfils the MARPOL standards or tries to through innovative pilot projects.

Fresh water savings

We have switched to using various water-saving applications, including special shower heads, flow regulators on wash hand basins and showers, and timer switches and infrared control in washroom areas. This has allowed us to make continual reductions in the amount of water consumed per person in recent years. Our research shows that AIDA has the lowest per capita consumption in the entire cruise industry. A vacuum system is used to operate toilet flushing. This saves water, meaning that only one liter of water is used per flush. In comparison to the previous year, we have again been able to significantly reduce our fresh water consumption per person per day in 2013. While it was still 183 liters per person and day in 2012, in 2013, it is only 168 liters per person per day.

We have also installed a vacuum food waste system on our Sphinx series ships. This uses considerably less water than conventional food waste disposal systems. That’s because instead of the waste being pumped through pipes with water, we transport it to the waste storage tank using a vacuum system.

Protecting biodiversity: Ballast water treatment

As well as protecting the environment and the climate, we are also committed to preserving biodiversity. That’s why the latest addition to our fleet, AIDAstella, is now our first ship with a ballast water treatment system. We thereby fulfill the standards of the IMO International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments* before its entry into effect.
Different organisms are regularly carried in the ballast water that serves to stabilize vessels at sea. These can include plankton and other microorganisms, which are then released when the ballast water is discharged. The challenge lies in making sure that species and organisms taken up with the seawater are not transferred to other ecosystems. If they are, there is the risk that they will establish themselves in the new ecosystem, proliferating and threatening native species. Treating ballast water makes it possible to prevent the unwanted transfer of these organisms in future.

The modern ballast water treatment system on AIDAstella complies with the IMO D-2 standard for ballast water treatment and destroys bacteria without the use of UV rays. That means that no harmful waste is produced.

* To protect fragile ecosystems and to prevent that microorganisms proliferate beyond their native waters, the IMO adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments in 2004. This regulates the provisions and criteria, maximum permissible values and inspection methods for prevention of unwanted transfer of ocean organisms, pathogens or sediments to foreign ecosystems.

Research projects

To drive the development of new technologies for environmental protection forward, AIDA Cruises takes part in diverse research projects.

For example, we are participating in the research project “Toplaterne des Leuchtturmprojektes e4ships” relating to the ecological, technical and economic assessment of use of fuel cells on ships. Another essential part of the project is formulating rules and standards for the approval and installation of fuel cells on ships and the use of low-emission fuels. The use of especially low-emission, gas-operated engines on board can be more quickly realized than the fuel cells.

In 2015, we will install dual-fuel engines in our new ship generation for the use of ecofriendly liquefied gas. In the EU project BunGas, we are committed to finding a way to develop safe and secure gas tanks for cruise ships. Together with the Testing Institute for Waste Water Technology in Aachen, we are investigating technical possibilities for optimizing treatment performance. By doing so, we strive to achieve the HELCOM threshold values for nitrogen and phosphorus before this is required by law in 2015. The project NAUTEK also deals with the treatment, purification and reuse of waste water on cruise ships.

With our partner Futouris, we are further developing the subject of sustainable shoreside excursions. Having created a catalog of criteria for more sustainable shoreside excursions in 2013, we are now focusing on sustainable organization of excursions in practice. First pilot projects will be conducted in 2014 in the Baltic Sea region.