AIDAsol Departs from Hamburg for the Canaries

October 20, 2016 /3BL Media/  - Docking for the 24th time in Hamburg, AIDAsol ended this year’s cruise season in the Hanseatic City on October 19, 2016. At 8:00 a.m. the cruise ship docked for the last time in 2016 at the HafenCity West cruise terminal.

AIDAsol docked a total of 16 times at the cruise terminal at Großer Grasbrook. While it was anchored at HafenCity, AIDAsol was supplied with low-emission power by the innovative LNG hybrid barge. This year, following AIDAsol’s successful commissioning on May 30, 2015, Becker Marine Systems’ floating liquefied gas power plant supplied the ship for the first time with environmentally friendly electricity throughout an entire season.

“The second year of the LNG hybrid barge’s operations was also successful and comprehensive,” says Dirk Lehmann, Managing Director of Becker Marine Systems. “With AIDAsol docking a total of 16 times, the barge supplied more than 380 MW of electricity thus making a valuable contribution to improving air quality. Thanks to the good working relationship with the AIDA Cruises team, the environmentally friendly LNG hybrid barge has thus established itself as a modern and up-to-the-minute technology in the port of Hamburg.

The use of liquefied natural gas for supplying power to ships significantly reduces emissions and particulates. Compared to the use of conventional marine diesel with 0.1 percent sulfur content, no sulfur oxides and no soot particles are emitted. Nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by up to 80 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent.

“We believe in LNG as being the cleanest fossil fuel. The LNG hybrid barge allows ships fitted with a land power connection to be supplied with electricity from LNG. We are proud to have successfully concluded this pilot project with Becker Marine Systems and AIDAsol. This is an important contribution towards reduced emissions at the port,” says Dr. Monika Griefahn, Chief Sustainability Officer at AIDA Cruises.

The cry of “cast off!” will go up at 6:00 p.m. and AIDAsol will take its leave with a final spectacular departure along the Elbe heading for its sunny winter quarters in the Canaries. The transcruise to the islands of eternal spring will take in Dover, Le Havre, Ferrol, Lisbon, Funchal and Arrecife before arriving at Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.

From there AIDAsol will be going on 7-day cruises every Sunday starting from October 30, 2016, visiting the highlights of the Canary Islands. Apart from the “island of flowers” Madeira, the “volcano islands” of Lanzarote, La Palma and Tenerife are also on the itinerary. There, apart from the Teide, Spain’s highest mountain, guests can look forward to many other attractions such as beautiful black and white beaches or fun for all the family with the animals at Loro Parque.

On April 21, 2017, AIDAsol will return to Hamburg. During the 2017 summer season it will be a guest of the Hanseatic City a total of 16 times. Until May 15, 2017 Hamburg will firstly be the departure port for short 4-day cruises to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) and London (Dover). Afterwards and until the end of the season on August 20, 2017, 10-day cruises to the Norwegian fjords are on the itinerary.

All AIDA vacation world offers can be booked directly at travel agencies, on www.aida.de or at the AIDA Customer Center at +49 (0) 381 / 20 27 07 07.

Information about AIDA Cruises:

AIDA Cruises is one of the fastest growing and most financially successful tourism businesses in Germany. The company employs about 8,000 people from 40 different countries at their corporate offices and on board AIDA ships. AIDA Cruises operates and markets one of the world’s most state-of-the-art fleets, currently comprising 11 cruise ships. The ships are operated in compliance with the highest international quality, environmental and safety standards. Three additional ships will be commissioned in the coming years. With its “green cruising” concept, AIDA will be the first cruise line in the world to operate ships entirely with LNG (liquefied natural gas) starting with the new ship generation 2019/2020.