AIDA Cruises has started using biofuels as part of its strategy to reduce CO2 emissions. On July 21, 2022, AIDAprima, a Hyperion-class cruise ship, was loaded with GoodFuels' sustainable biofuel during a port visit to Rotterdam, Netherlands. The trial took place while the ship was on a seven-day cruise, visiting Hamburg, Southampton, Havre and Zeebrugge.
The next-generation sustainable biofuel supplied by the Dutch biofuel pioneer comes from raw materials that are certified as 100% waste or residues, with no land use issues and no competition with food production or deforestation. It provides an 80 to 90 percent reduction in well-to-tail CO2 compared to fossil fuels.
Thanks to its "drop in" properties, AIDAprima was bunkered with biofuel without the need for any engine or tank modifications.
The successful bio-bunkering is said to demonstrate AIDA Cruises' commitment to investing in new low-carbon technologies as part of the company's long-term decarbonization strategy. It also provides a blueprint for the wider cruise sector on how to accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels on large passenger ships.