The use of shore power is becoming increasingly important, especially in countries bordering the Baltic Sea. The cruise company AIDA Cruises is playing a key role in the growing availability and use of these facilities.

The Port of Kiel announced a new record in shore-side power usage: cruise ships have already used the system 100 times this year. This significant mark was reached on Wednesday, with the connection of the AIDAnova. AIDA Cruises is a regular guest at the Ostseekai. The AIDA ships have already used shore power in Kiel a total of 41 times in 2024, making them the main users. The cruise company had already campaigned for the construction of this facility in 2018 and signed an agreement with the City of Kiel, the state government and the Port of Kiel to install a shore power connection. The completed facility was officially opened by AIDAsol in the summer of 2021. AIDA Cruises supported the port as a pilot partner for the commissioning of the shore power system not only in Kiel, but also in Rostock, Hamburg and other European ports.

“Our AIDA ships already use shore power in all German ports. Our clear goal is to use this technology in all Baltic Sea ports as well. We call at more than 20 ports in this region alone. It is not yet possible to use this technology on a broad scale. We have already made the necessary ship-side investments. Now, together with the ports, we are actively driving forward the further expansion of the relevant port infrastructure, thereby supporting the European Union’s goal of making shore power available in all major European ports by 2030,” says AIDA President Felix Eichhorn.

The PORT OF KIEL and AIDA Cruises were among the first in the industry to work on a stringent shore power strategy. Today we are celebrating an important milestone for more sustainable maritime tourism. In Kiel, 70 percent of the ocean-going cruise ships have used our shore power systems this year – this is an important step towards our goal of supplying all cruise ships with green electricity,’ explains Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director of SEEHAFEN Kiel GmbH & Co. KG.

AIDA Cruises has been considering the use of shore-side electricity in the design and construction of its cruise ships since 2004. This technology can significantly reduce local emissions while the ship is in port. AIDA Cruises is actively promoting the opening of additional facilities in European ports, thus continuously expanding the use of shore-side power.

In April 2022, for example, AIDA Cruises signed a memorandum of understanding with Cruise Baltic, a network of 32 ports and destinations, to use shore power in ports in the Baltic Sea region. In June 2023, Denmark’s first shore power system will be inaugurated in Aarhus with AIDAmar. In July 2024, the first Swedish system was inaugurated in Stockholm with AIDAdiva. On September 24, 2024, a new shore power facility was opened in Oslo with AIDAluna. With this commissioning, cruise ships can now obtain green energy from shore in 12 ports in six European countries.

The next steps are already determined. Next year, for example, the first shore power system for cruise ships will go into operation in Copenhagen. Here, too, AIDA Cruises will assist the port as project partner.

AIDA Cruises has been investing in a future-proof and sustainable cruise market for many years. In addition to the use of shore power and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an important bridging technology, AIDA Cruises is expanding the use of alternative energy sources for the operation of its cruise ships. Together with various partners, the cruise line is working intensively on further solutions. As part of Carnival Corporation & plc, AIDA Cruises is committed to achieving net-zero emissions in the operation of its fleet by 2050.