The market for cruises is growing. In 2015 Germany was the second-largest cruise market worldwide, behind the USA. In Europe, Germans even take the lead when it comes to cruise vacations. In early 2016 we welcomed the eleventh ship to our fleet – AIDAprima. In the coming years we will be commissioning three more new AIDA ships. That means we are and will remain a growth driver in the German cruise market.
At the same time, a cruise is inextricably linked with experiencing unspoiled nature. On board our ships our guests discover the most beautiful places in the world. For us, operating sustainably is the basis of our business model because only if we shape our growth responsibly, protect the environment, and commit to our employees and partners can we continue to successfully provide cruises in future.
With each new generation of ships we set new standards at AIDA: in terms of guest comfort and vacation experience, as well as in the area of environmental protection. Even when planning and commissioning our ships we set great store by using the best available technologies in order to minimize the impact of our operations on the environment and the climate.
In many areas AIDA Cruises is taking a pioneering role – for example with regard to the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for low-emission ship operations. LNG is the cleanest fossil fuel currently available and AIDAprima will be the first cruise ship in the world to be fueled in an environmentally friendly way with LNG when docked. Under our “Green Cruising” concept, we can be fueling the next AIDA generation – whose construction we contracted from the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg in 2015 and which we will be commissioning from 2019 – entirely with liquefied natural gas. By using LNG the emission of soot particulates and sulfur oxides is completely avoided. Emissions of nitrogen oxides are reduced by 80 percent and CO2 emissions by 20 percent.
Furthermore, since May 2015 as part of a pilot project, while AIDAsol is docked at the HafenCity Hamburg it is being fueled via the LNG hybrid barge with low-emission power from liquefied natural gas. Our trendsetting initiatives for the use of LNG on cruise ships earned us the Seatrade Award 2015 as the “Environmental Initiative of the Year.” We are delighted to receive this recognition of our efforts which is an affirmation that we should consistently pursue the course we have taken.
Apart from the dual fuel motor for LNG operation, AIDAprima also features two land power connections and a three-phase system for the treatment of waste gas that reduces soot particulates, nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide emissions by 90 to 99 percent. Our ship is thus equipped to make use of currently available, low-emission means of power supply. Innovative MALS technology also allows AIDAprima to glide on a carpet of air bubbles, reducing friction and thus also fuel consumption.
We have also further improved the lifecycle assessment of the ships in our existing fleet by putting many different measures in place. A total of four ships have already been retrofitted for exhaust gas treatment. In addition we almost quadrupled the use of gas oil as a fuel in 2015 and cut heavy fuel oil by more than one third. This has reduced sulfur oxide emissions by around 13 percent. By joining the 2-Grad Foundation in 2015 we are moreover supporting the climate target of limiting global warming to less than 2 °Celsius compared with the standard before the start of industrialization.
We were able to reduce per person/day consumption of fresh water on board the AIDA fleet in 2015 from 172.8 to 168.8 liters and have once again increased our waste recycling rate by 3 percent.
Apart from environmental protection our sustainability strategy also embraces a commitment to our employees and society. We promote the potential of our employees with extensive training and continuing education options. We increased the numbers of employees in training by more than 50 percent in 2015 compared with 2014. We have also launched various initiatives – such as a Talent Management Program, and various distinctions such as the Seniority Award, Employee of the Month or Intranet Award – that recognize good performance and employee loyalty. Our intranet is a modern communication platform that allows us to inform all employees about company news. At the same time we have made it easier for employees to exchange information from ship to ship, from land to ship, and vice versa. Our efforts were also rewarded in 2015 when we were named a “Top Employer.”
Furthermore in 2015 we already celebrated ten years of partnership with the children’s charity, SOS-Kinderdorf, which we once again supported by donating the revenue from the New Year’s tombola which is held on board AIDA ships. We are also involved in various initiatives that provide emergency aid to refugees. Another area of focus was on the promotion of athletes and sporting events, most notably in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
This report contains detailed information about our commitment to the environment and society.
We hope you enjoy reading it and get some exciting insights into the AIDA world.
Best regards,
