Initiative to test biofuels represents another
major milestone in company's decarbonization strategy, with
AIDAprima from AIDA Cruises becoming first larger-scale cruise ship
to be bunkered with blend of marine biofuel, made from 100%
sustainable raw materials
GENOA,
Italy, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A few weeks
after announcing a new decarbonization function, Costa Group –
Europe's leading cruise operator
with its two companies, Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, and part of
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), the
world's largest cruise company – today announced it will start
testing biofuel aboard one of its AIDA Cruises ships, another major
step forward in its ongoing sustainability effort.
As part of its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
reduction efforts, and with Dutch biofuel pioneer GoodFuels as its
partner on the project, AIDAprima on July
21 became the first larger-scale cruise ship to be bunkered
with a blend of marine biofuel, which is made from 100% sustainable
raw materials, such as waste cooking oil, and marine gas oil (MGO),
during its layover in Rotterdam.
AIDAprima is currently sailing on seven-day voyages from
Rotterdam to popular destinations
in Western Europe and to
Norway from/to Hamburg.
The current project represents an important milestone in Costa
Group's decarbonization strategy, which includes testing
technologies and processes to improve the efficiency of the
existing fleet.
With the successful start of biofuel usage, the initiative aims
to demonstrate that gradual decarbonization is possible, even on
ships already in service. At the same time, a key prerequisite for
using biofuels is that it can become widely available on an
industrial scale and at marketable prices.
In addition to the use of biofuels, Costa Group's efforts
include the installation of the first fuel cell on board a cruise
ship (AIDAnova) and the commissioning of what is currently the
cruise industry's largest battery storage system with a capacity of
10 megawatt hours on board AIDAprima. Costa Group is also focusing
on the expansion and increased use of shore power in ports where
the shore-side infrastructure is available.
Costa Group had previously tested the use of regenerated
biofuels in marine diesel engines together with research partners
at the University of Rostock. Now that the first rollout has taken
place in regular ship operations, the cooperation with GoodFuels
will be developed on a long-term basis.
With several short-, medium- and long-term strategic
initiatives, Costa Group is making an active contribution
towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the
European Green Deal decarbonization objectives.
Over the years, Costa Group has been leading sustainable
innovation in the global cruise industry by steadily pioneering
advanced technologies on board its new and existing ships. The
company was the first to introduce liquefied natural gas (LNG)
propulsion – the most advanced fuel technology available to reduce
emissions – with four ships already in service in the Costa Group
fleet. The majority of Costa Group ships are equipped with shore
power capabilities to be zero emissions in ports where the
technology is available.
Overall, Carnival Corporation continues its ongoing energy
efficiency investment program and efforts to reduce fuel
consumption, including over $350 million invested in
energy efficiency improvements since 2016, along with the company's
fleet optimization strategy and design of more efficient
itineraries. Together, these ongoing efforts are expected to drive
a 10% reduction in fuel consumption per available lower berth day
(ALBD) in the company's first full year of guest cruise operations
compared to 2019, along with a 9% reduction in carbon emissions per
lower berth distance traveled.
As part of its longer-term sustainability plan and vision,
Carnival Corporation has committed to significant investments to
achieve its 2030 sustainability goals and 2050 aspirations, which
incorporate six critical sustainability focus areas overall. These
areas include climate action; circular economy; sustainable
tourism; good health and well-being; diversity, equity and
inclusion; and biodiversity and conservation.
Among these priorities, the company has committed to reducing
carbon emission intensity by 20% from its 2019 baseline by 2030,
supporting its efforts and aspirations to achieve net
carbon-neutral ship operations by 2050. Overall, the company's
highest responsibility and top priority is compliance,
environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of
its guests, the people in the communities its ships visit, and
its shipboard and shoreside personnel.
More information on the company's sustainability efforts is
available at www.CarnivalSustainability.com.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival
Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel
companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise
lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in
North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise
Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O
Cruises (Australia), Costa
Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com,
www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com,
www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com,
www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc