Monday, June 5, 2023
HomeEnvironmentCosta Group Starts Use of Biofuels

Subscribe

To our FREE newsletter
Get all the latest maritime news delivered straight to your inbox.

Costa Group Starts Use of Biofuels

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, the world’s largest cruise company – 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.

Related Posts

Video

Finance & Economy
Shipping News
Ports

BW LPG appoints new CFO

BW LPG announced that it has appointed Ms Samantha Xu as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 1 September 2023. Ms Xu has over 20 years...

Frontline Posts Highest First Quarter Results Since 2008

Frontline plc reported unaudited results for the three months ended March 31, 2023: Highlights Highest first quarter profit since 2008 of $199.6 million, or $0.90 per...

Diana Shipping posts slightly lower Q1 profit; takes out $123m in loans

Diana Shipping reported net income of $22.7 million and net income attributed to common stockholders of $21.3 million for the first quarter of 2023....

CMA CGM Profit Eases as Container Transport Demand Wanes

CMA CGM expects its profit to ease further for the rest of the year after a first-quarter decline, as an uncertain economy and influx...

Seanergy ‘well positioned to benefit from positive trend in Capesize market’

Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp., announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023, and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.025 per...

Taiwan Shipping Firms Set to Hand Out Bumper Bonuses Again

Taiwanese shipping companies are handing out bumper mid-year bonuses despite a slump in global...

Baltic index hits over 3-month low amid lower coal imports

The Baltic exchange’s main sea freight index extended losses for the 15th session straight...

Baltic index falls for the month as vessel demand wanes

The Baltic exchange’s main sea freight index recorded its first monthly decline in four...

North Korea missile tests endanger shipping, UN maritime agency told

North Korean missile tests are endangering the safety of commercial shipping in busy sea...

Singapore Clamps Down on Tankers as Dark Fleet Grows

Singapore’s detentions of oil and chemicals tankers have surged since early last year, highlighting...

DP World Completes Terminal Expansion Project Vancouver Port

DP World has completed the AED954 million ($259.78 million) Centerm expansion project, increasing container throughput at the Port of Vancouver by 60 percent. The terminal...

DP World completes AED 954 million Vancouver port expansion

DP World and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority have celebrated two historic events – the completion of the Centerm Expansion Project at DP World...

Alexandroupolis port gets 24 million euros of EU funding

Greece has secured 24 million euros ($26 million) in European Union funding to upgrade its northern Aegean Sea port of Alexandroupolis, privatisation agency HRADF...

Port Hedland Iron Ore Exports Down 5% in April

Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has delivered a total monthly throughput of 57.7 million tonnes (Mt) for April 2023. This throughput was a two per cent...

APM Terminals Reveals $1 Billion Investment in Brazil

APM Terminals’ CEO Keith Svendsen has pledged an investment of about US$1 billion in the company's Brazilian operations up to 2026. The amount includes around...