Today a new age has dawned for the cruise industry as AIDA Cruises celebrated the first steel cutting for the world’s first cruise ship that can run completely on liquid natural gas (LNG).
During a ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the cruise industry, by way of German cruise line AIDA Cruises, entered a new green age with the symbolic first steel cutting for the world’s first cruise ship that can be powered completely by using LNG.
AIDA President Felix Eichhorn: “With the start of construction of the first LNG cruise ship in the world, we are not only setting standards for the future in terms of eco-friendliness. Thanks to the further development of the innovative ship design and a large number of successful product innovations of the existing AIDA fleet, we will be opening up totally new worlds of experience to our guests on board our ships in the future. An extraordinary variety of individual vacation possibilities, innovative entertainment and cuisine concepts, inspired by the modern lifestyle of international hotspots – these are just some of the themes with which we are creating new impetus in Germany’s vacation market”.
Felix Eichhorn, Bernhard Meyer and Tim Meyer pressed the start button of the computer-controlled cutting machine, commencing work on the first steel plate for the next generation of AIDA cruise ships
With the “Green Cruising” concept, AIDA Cruises will be the first cruise shipping company in the world with the capability to operate its new generation of ships using 100% LNG.
AIDA President Felix Eichhorn: “AIDA will be giving the German holiday market a completely new impetus with the new Helios Class“.
The new generation of ships combines innovative design with state-of-the-art technology for even more comfort on board. The successfully launched features, such as the Brewerie, Theatrium, Beach Club and the Four Elements, have been developed further for the new vessel generation. A new cabin concept will provide AIDA guests with even more room for individuality and personal service in the future, from the Penthouse Suite to the extra-large cabin for families as well as the single cabin. Culinary trends from all over the world served in 15 restaurants and 23 bars will inspire guests to sample something new onboard.
“We are very proud to be driving forward this quantum leap in the area of environmental protection together with AIDA Cruises,” said Bernard Meyer. “The successful development of this new and sophisticated ship class for AIDA Cruises shows what a good team spirit, the consistent pursuit of a common goal and committed people can bring about”.
From 2007 to 2013, the Papenburg shipyard produced seven Diva Class cruise liners and with this new project AIDA is continuing its long-standing partnership with Meyer Werft.
The new ships will be powered by LNG engines, made by Caterpillar/MaK, which fulfil the strictest environmental regulations. Energy efficiency was the key focus of the entire engineering work. The planning and design activities gave absolute priority to heat recovery, innovative electric motors, LED lighting, ship automation geared to energy efficiency, optimized underwater paintwork to reduce resistance, weight-optimized material selection and many other topics.
The two Helios Class ships, with a size in excess of 180,000 GT (gross tonnage) and around 2,500 cabins each will strengthen the AIDA fleet in the fall of 2018 and spring 2021 respectively.
The first 7-day cruises on the 13th member of the AIDA fleet will take guests to the Canaries from December 2018.