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Kiel celebrates 100th cruise ship supplied with shore power this year as AIDAnova plugs in at Ostseekai

The Port of Kiel and AIDA Cruises are jointly celebrating the 100th cruise ship call this year to be supplied with shore power as AIDAnova docked at the Ostseekai Cruise Terminal on Wednesday morning.

Frederik Erdmann, German Correspondent

September 25, 2024

2 Min Read
The Port of Kiel celebrated this year's 100th onshore power supply to a cruise ship as AIDAnova berthed at OstseekaiPHOTO: PORT OF KIEL

Dr Dirk Claus, the MD of the Port of Kiel, highlighted that Kiel had defined 100 shore power supplies to cruise ships as its benchmark for this year. Now this goal has been fulfilled ahead of schedule and ahead of the season’s close.  

Shore power for cruise ships in Kiel

According to Dr. Claus, almost 70% of all ocean cruise ship calls handled at Kiel this year will make use of shore power supply.

While the majority of supplies conducted in recent years accounted for tests and preparations, Kiel has now achieved 85% of the connections accounting for regular supplies - with just a 15% share remaining for tests of further ships wanting to take shore power.

According to the Port of Kiel, ships wanting to take shore power usually need between one and three 'trial calls' for tests and preparations before regular supplies can start. During recent years, 22 ships have passed respective testing at Kiel, and 2024 alone saw another ten ships being integrated.

Out of this year's shore power supplies, about one third have taken place at Ostuferhafen which saw its facility going into regular operation this spring. Here, among others MSC Euribia and Costa Diadema receive shore power regularly.

Up to and including 2025, the Port of Kiel will have invested €55m into its shore power facilities. The port supplies its customers entirely with 'green shore power' purchased on the spot market according to demand.

Carnival Corp. ships account for 50% of shore power usage

Out of the 100 cruise ship calls supplied with green shore power this year, Carnival Corporation accounts for 54 - out of which 41 calls are AIDA Cruises ships.

At today’s call by AIDAnova Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, outlined the mutually beneficial cooperation between the Port of Kiel and AIDA Cruises commenting that Kiel had recognized the potential of shore power supply early on and made corresponding investments.

Eichhorn said the milestone call was the result of joint, collaborative efforts to make cruising more sustainable.

German ports lead on shore power facilities

German ports - with Kiel at the top – have takn a leading position in onshore power supply for cruise vessels. While shore power is increasingly turning into a standard in Germany's cruise hubs, according to recent CLIA figures, only 35 cruise ports worldwide have the facilities in place to offer shore power at present.

 

About the Author

Frederik Erdmann

German Correspondent

Frederik Erdmann is Seatrade's German cruise correspondent since 2002. Following secondary school graduation he joined the port agency network, Sartori & Berger, on a vocational training program. After subsequent studies of Business Administration, Frederik Erdmann held various positions at Sartori & Berger until 2010. After a period of working with the Flensburg Chamber of Commerce, he was appointed Designated Person Safety/Security, Environment and Quality of the coastal ferry operator, Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei. As a maritime trade press correspondent and visiting lecturer of the Flensburg University of Applied Sciences,

Frederik Erdmann concentrates on ferry and cruise ship management, port development as well as safety and security in passenger shipping. He is also a member of the Flensburg Chamber of Commerce's Tourism Committee.

 

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