Sometimes less really is more. Thanks to cutting-edge technology and highly-trained personnel, we are able to reduce our ships’ energy, fuel and water consumption.
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Innovative measures, trained personnel
Heat recovery system on AIDAmar
Heat once, use twice: From 2012, we are using a heat recovery system on AIDAmar to reduce power consumption for heating and cooling purposes. We installed this innovative system at the shipyard in 2011, and it will go into service with the ship mid-May. In a first step, waste heat from our motors is converted to cooling energy, which is then used for the ship’s air conditioning. The second step is to use the heat energy left over from this to generate drinking water. For this, the system uses vacuum generation to vaporize and desalinate sea water at just 50 °C. We also use waste heat energy from the motors to generate steam. It flows into the air conditioners, laundry rooms and kitchens (galleys) of our ships.
More efficient thanks to the Alaska cooler
A cool idea. In winter, and during our voyages through the cool waters of northern Europe, we will be sailing in an even more environmentally-friendly way in the future. Aided by a heat exchanger, known as the Alaska cooler, we aim to use the low temperatures of the sea water to significantly reduce the energy consumption of our air-conditioning system. In 2012, a project of this kind is to be investigated by our engineers. The chiller control adaption made in 2011 on AIDAdiva and AIDAbella is already helping us to operate on-board cooling units more efficiently. It ensures that the air conditioning stabilizes at an optimal operating level, instead of constantly working up to full power and then switching itself off later on.
Modern lighting management
Let there be light – but let it be as environmentally friendly as possible. By using energy-saving lighting and a comprehensive light management system, we have succeeded in reducing the amount of energy necessary for the lighting system on AIDAsol by around 30 %. We will also be using this system on AIDAmar in the future. Furthermore, almost all ships in our fleet have a key card switch, ensuring that lights and air conditioning are not left on unnecessarily. It is only when our guests enter their cabins and slip their key card into the purpose-built holder that the lights come on and the air conditioning is fully activated. When the guests leave their room and take their card with them, the lights go off again and the air conditioning system switches to a lower setting. This measure saves us half a tonne of fuel per day.
Diesel-electric drive concept
The majority of our ships have a diesel-electric drive system. With this system, a diesel engine drives a generator which generates power. Some of this power is used to supply the ship’s hotel services. The rest of the power is used to drive the electric motors, which then keep the propeller turning. This arrangement has two advantages: On the one hand, electric motors, unlike diesel engines, are just as efficient at all capacities. It means that regardless of whether the ship is sailing quickly or slowly, efficiency remains at the same level, and no energy is wasted. In addition, the separation of drive system and diesel engine means that the diesel engine can also function at optimal efficiency. At all times, only as much power is generated as is needed. The diesel-electric drive system is thus a two-track way of ensuring that energy is used optimally and emissions are reduced.
Use of air, recirculating air and waste heat
On all of our newer ships, starting with AIDAdiva, all cabins and public areas are fitted with a modern air recirculation system which includes waste heat recovery. With the help of a temperature control system (HVAC control), they are controlled as separate entities and switched on depending on the temperature. This modern technology reduces energy consumption in the cabins by up to 20 %. In addition, a boiler system in the funnel of all of our ships allows the waste heat generated there to be used for a variety of purposes, including heating the ship. The fresh air supply in public areas is also now even more efficient. Only as much air is processed as is actually required. What’s more, thanks to our optimized cooling system, we have cut emissions of ozone-depleting refrigerants to zero. And with the three-way valves for individual regulation of the cooling capacity of the on-board air conditioning system, we are able to save three tonnes of fuel per ship per day – on all ships from AIDAluna onwards.
Intelligent management and design
In recent years, we have identified and implemented numerous strategies to save on fuel and reduce CO2 emissions on our ships. These include substantially lower cruising speeds, efficient route management and the optimization of scheduling and laytime. This optimized route management reduces the whole fleet’s fuel consumption by 2 %. You have to remember that the shortest route is not always the most energy efficient. What’s more, we use what is known as the AIDA Power Monitor. This system provides data on energy consumption, wind and temperature for the ships, allowing it to identify new potential ways of saving energy. The use of current-optimized propellers and rudders has also allowed us to further reduce fuel consumption. The rudder blades are twisted asymmetrically in line with the propeller’s hub. This design creates a sail effect, which reduces hydrodynamic drag. Of course, the underwater bodies of the ships in our fleet are current-optimized, allowing best use of driving power. And we’re even committed to efficiency when it comes to the underwater coat of paint. The silicone-based paint reduces friction during the voyage, thus also cutting down on fuel consumption. It goes without saying that this paint is free from polluting toxins. In 2011, the motors of our silicone-coated ships consumed 3 % less fuel overall.
Our trained crew
The main reason for the success of our environmental strategy is that we involve our employees in it so actively. From day one, we sensitize them to the responsible use of natural resources – at regular training sessions, for example. Every crew member completes a special environmental training program on how to deal correctly with resources, waste water and waste. Our officers also receive job specific training which specially prepares them for the environment-specific requirements of their daily work on deck or in the engine room.
At every point, transparency and the understanding of our employees is particularly important. If there are legal or internal amendments, we explain to them immediately why changes are being made to everyday working procedures.
Under our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics all of our employees undertake to
• adhere to our environmental legislation and guidelines,
• implement operational procedures in accordance with the corporate-wide environmental management system and
• immediately inform the relevant line manager in cases of reportable environmental pollution.
Environmental protection in figures: Our total energy consumption
We made important progress in terms of environmental and climate protection in 2011. It is true that absolute energy consumption on board has increased to almost 5.8 million gigajoules due to the commissioning of our new ship, AIDAsol. However, since 2007, we have reduced our fuel consumption per guest per day – and therefore our CO2 emissions – by almost one-fifth, or 18.1 %.
To reduce CO2 emissions, we also inspect the operation of our fleet of company cars on an annual basis. By buying more energy-efficient new automobiles, we achieved a significant reduction in average emissions in 2011 compared to 2010. The energy consumption of our fleet of company cars is down 310 tonnes of CO2 compared to the previous year. By 2013, we plan to have further reduced average emissions to around 135 g/km per automobile.
We have kept emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter at 2011 levels. We have reduced our sulfur emissions by 1.2 % to 10.5 kg per nautical mile. All air emissions are calculated with the help of defined corporate-wide conversion factors (see table) on the basis of fuel consumed.
In 2011, we extended our headquarters in Rostock and installed our own data processing center. We meet 60 % of our indirect energy requirements with renewable energies.
