AIDAprima bunkers with sustainable biofuel in Rotterdam

GoodFuels’ next-generation sustainable biofuel is derived from feedstocks certified as 100% waste or residue — such as waste cooking oil — blended with marine gas oil, with no land-use issues and no competition with food production or deforestation. It enables a well-to-exhaust CO2 reduction of 80-90% when compared to fossil fuels.

This biofuel is functionally equivalent to petroleum-derived fuels while virtually free of sulfur oxides and can be used in already installed main engines without modifications to the engine or fuel infrastructure.

Owing to its ‘drop in’ properties, AIDAprima was not required to undergo any modifications to the engine or tanks to enable the biofuel bunkering.

Needed on an industrial scale

‘We continue to actively explore all opportunities to decarbonise our fleet while advancing efficiency in line with international carbon intensity reduction targets,’ remarked Felix Eichhorn, president, AIDA Cruises. ‘With the successful start of biofuel usage, we have proven that gradual decarbonisation is possible even on ships already in service. An important prerequisite for us as a cruise line to be able to use it, is that it becomes widely available on an industrial scale and at marketable prices.’

Further deliveries intended

The trial took place while the vessel was on a seven-day cruise, calling Hamburg, Germany, Southampton, UK, Le Havre, France and Zeebrugge, Belgium.

Follow-up deliveries are envisioned by AIDA Cruises, with the potential for the fuel’s expansion to other brands under the Carnival Corp. banner.

In addition to the use of biofuels,  AIDA Cruises' decarbonisation strategy includes installation of the first fuel cell onboard AIDAnova and the commissioning of what the line called 'the largest battery storage system in cruise shipping,' with a capacity of 10MW hours on board AIDAprima. It is also focusing on the expansion and increased use of shore power.

The line previously tested regenerated biofuels in marine diesel engines together with research partners at the University of Rostock. 

GoodFuels

AIDAprima is the first large passenger ship to use Netherlands-based GoodFuels’ sustainable marine biofuel.

Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, GoodFuels, said of the partnership, ‘This first bio-bunkering with AIDA Cruises marks an exciting step forward on the cruise industry’s decarbonisation pathway, demonstrating that our sustainable biofuels are a safe, technically viable and convenient option to drastically cut down emissions from passenger vessels.

‘As the effects of climate change are felt acutely in several parts of the world, the time for action is now, and biofuels are one of the few options that can already make a difference today.

‘We are delighted to have worked alongside the trail-blazers at AIDA Cruises in the past few months to make this milestone a reality, and we look forward to collaborating again in the future.’