According to a press release shared on September 24, 2024, the cruise company AIDA Cruises and the Port of Oslo celebrated the opening of its new shore power system. This means that cruise ships in Oslo can now be supplied with shore power during their stay in port. The visiting ship for the opening was AIDAluna. At the ceremony, Anita Leirvik North, Vice Mayor for Culture and Business Development and Einar Marthinussen, Commercial Director Port of Oslo, welcomed the captain of AIDAluna, Marc-Dominique Tidow, to the pier. With the symbolic act of cutting a ribbon, the shore power system was officially put into regular operation. This was preceded by an extensive test phase, during which AIDAluna had already been successfully supplied with green energy from shore. The system in Oslo is already the fifth shore power system in Norway.
We are very pleased to be able to supply our AIDA ships with shore power in the port of Oslo, an important port in Northern Europe. Shore power is a relevant technology for us on the way to net-zero emissions in ship operations. With the commissioning of this system, our cruise ships can now obtain green energy from shore in 12 ports in six European countries,” says Dirk Inger, SVP Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability at AIDA Cruises.
Einar Marthinussen added: “Thank you very much for the excellent cooperation we had during the testing. Your ship, AIDAbella, was the first to fully connect to this facility. Since then, both AIDAmar and AIDAluna have visited us. Thank you very much for helping to reduce emissions and supporting Oslo’s ambitious climate goals. So far, 20 out of 43 cruise ships have connected to the facility. 2024 was supposed to be a kind of test year, where both Port of Oslo and the shipping companies would familiarize themselves with the facility. A connection rate of around 50 percent is more than we dared to hope for at this stage.”
AIDA Cruises has been considering the use of shore power in the planning and construction of its cruise ships since 2004. This technology can significantly reduce local emissions while the ship is in port. AIDA Cruises is continuously expanding the use of shore power thanks to the opening of further facilities in European cruise areas. Since 2024, all AIDA ships departing on cruises from German ports can be supplied with shore-side electricity during their laytime.
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 to operate its cruise ships. Together with various partners, the cruise company is working intensively on further solutions. As part of Carnival Corporation & plc, AIDA Cruises is aiming for net-zero emissions in the operation of its fleet by 2050.
