Rostock-Warnemünde shore power plant opens, welcoming AIDAsol

Inauguration of the plant – which was completed last summer and is alleged to be the largest in Europe – took place on May 10 during the 12th German National Maritime Conference in the presence of Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig and AIDA Cruises President Felix Eichhorn. 

Its construction is the result of a joint agreement signed in 2018 between AIDA Cruises, the state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock and Rostock Port. 

Sending an important message on more sustainable practices 

‘With our green cruising strategy, we have been investing in a sustainable cruise market for many years,’ said Eichhorn. ‘The shore power plant in Rostock-Warnemünde is another important step after the facility in Hamburg on our way to an emission-neutral cruise that we want to achieve with our fleet.’ 

Thanking those involved for their ‘good and trusting cooperation,’ he went on to add that ‘together we are sending out an important signal, not just in Germany, but throughout Europe.’

Shore plant features 

The plant has an output of up to 20 MVA and two cruise ships can be supplied with electricity at the same time at berths P7 and P8. 

AIDAsol typically requires up to 4.5 MWh of electricity.

Cleaner cruising in the AIDA fleet 

Since 2017, AIDA Cruises has been using Europe's first shore power plant in Hamburg-Altona. 

It considered the use of shore power in 2004, when it placed the order for the construction of AIDAdiva and for all other ships put into service thereafter. As a result, 10 of AIDA’s ships can use shore power or are technically prepared for it. 

The cruise line’s aim is to convert all ships built from 2000 onwards to more sustainable vessels: AIDAnova will receive a fuel cell this year; in 2022, a battery storage system will go into operation on board one of AIDA’s ships.

Cruise restart

AIDAsol is set to begin cruising from the Port of Kiel on May 22, likely as part of a series of short sailings.