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

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.