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Aidanova: For a few weeks now, no longer with liquefied natural gas LNG, but again with the environmentally harmful marine diesel
Photo: Mohssen Assanimoghaddam/ dpa
For years, environmentalists have been fighting against the use of marine diesel to power cruise ships and container ships.
Ships powered by marine diesel emit significant amounts of pollutants: According to the Federal Environment Agency, the exhaust gases from diesel-powered ships pollute the air with toxic sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, soot and particulate matter.
The shipowners have been promising the use of more environmentally friendly fuels for a long time - but even the first attempts are now in danger of failing again.
This is also the case with the cruise line Aida.
Due to increased prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG), the two cruise ships "Aidanova" and "Aidacosma" are currently not using the fuel, which is considered more environmentally friendly.
Instead, they have been running on diesel fuel marine gas oil (MGO) for a few weeks, confirmed Aida spokesman Hansjörg Kunze on Thursday.
The "Hamburger Abendblatt" had previously reported about it.
"The price increases were significant," said Kunze.
LNG has become three to five times more expensive.
A delivery at reasonable prices is not possible.
The engines of both ships are built for dual-fuel operation and can use both MGO and LNG.
However, Aida is determined to return to the comparatively more environmentally friendly LNG operation if that is possible.
"We cannot foresee the price development," said Kunze.
Fjord Line is also returning to marine diesel: "It's sad to have to rebuild again"
LNG not only reduces local emissions, but is also the bridging technology in the future to possible operation with emission-free gases.
The "Aidanova", which went into service in 2018, was the world's first cruise ship that could be operated entirely with LNG.
She is currently traveling around the Canary Islands.
The "Aidacosma" is in the Arabian Gulf.
The "Hamburger Abendblatt" also refers to the ferry company Fjord Line.
This had announced that its two LNG ships, the "MS Stavangerfjord" and "MS Bergensfjord" from pure LNG engines to dual-fuel engines.
Unfortunately, rising fuel costs for LNG lead to a profit situation that is not sustainable.
"The energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in extraordinarily high and volatile LNG prices," it said in a statement.
It is sad to have to make a conversion to also be able to drive with MGO.
Routes between Denmark and Norway are affected.
la/dpa
