Sunday, October 13, 2019

Shipping: AIDA Cruises, Part of Carnival Corporation, Researching Fuel Cells

Well this is interesting.
You know what fuel cells run on don't you.
And we thought it was a big deal when we were talking LNG!!
Regarding the AIDAnova, someone got a bit excited:
August 21, 2018 
UPDATED—We Are Just Hours Away From The Float-out Of The World's First LNG Powered Cruise Ship

October 9, 2018 
Giant LNG Powered Cruise Ship AIDAnova To Begin Final Fit-Out
The AIDAnova is not just the first LNG cruise ship. As noted last August when the ship was floated out of Meyer Werft's construction shed:
When the shipyard hands over the keys to AIDA Cruises, Ltd. (Carnival sub.) it will be the 4th or 5th largest cruise ship (gross tonnage) in the world....

AIDAnova Statistics

  • Cruise Line:  AIDA
  • Cruise Ship:  AIDAnova
  • Ship Class:  Helios
  • Year Built:  2018
  • Passengers:  6,600
  • Crew: 2,500
  • Total People: 9,100
  • Ship Cost:  $950 Million
  • Beam:  42 Meters
  • Gross Tonnage:  180,000 tons
  • Ship Length:  337 Meters (1,106 feet)
  • Decks:  20
  • Speed:  26 Knots
  • IMO:  9781865
  • MMSI:  TBD
And today's story from World Maritime News:

Pa-X-ell2: First Fuel Cells for AIDAnova
AIDA Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation, is taking part in Germany’s research project which will test the use of fuel cells on passenger vessels.
The Pa-X-ell2 joint project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.

Apart from AIDA Cruises which is represented by Carnival, the project also gathers Meyer Werft shipyard, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, and other partners.

As explained, the objective is to find practical solutions for climate-neutral mobility across all shipping. The groundbreaking project specifically aims to develop a decentralized energy network and a hybrid energy system with a new generation of fuel cells for use on oceangoing passenger vessels.

According to the cruise line, fuel cells are planned to be tested on board AIDAnova for the first time. This is seen as a next step in the company’s Green Cruising strategy.

“With the first-time use of fuel cells on board an oceangoing cruise ship, we will reach a further important milestone on our journey to emission-neutral cruising, and will show further concrete solutions for achieving our climate targets,” Felix Eichhorn, AIDA President, commented.

Fuel cells enable power supply on board with even lower emissions than is currently possible with liquefied natural gas (LNG). Furthermore, they operate with low noise and vibration. A fuel cell runs on hydrogen obtained from methanol, which also has the potential to be produced from renewable energies in the future....MORE
And our last post on the big boat:
December 13, 2018
Ships: "Meyer Werft hands over LNG-powered AIDAnova"
A bit later than originally planned but considering it's the world's first LNG powered cruise ship and one of the five largest cruise ships, period, not bad.

From LNG World:
German shipyard Meyer Werft has handed over the world’s first LNG-powered cruise ship, the AIDAnova, to AIDA Cruises. 

https://www.lngworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/meyer-werft-hands-over-lng-powered-aidanova-768x491.jpg