Varo Energy supplies AIDA Cruises with 100% marine biofuel in pilot project

Photo: AIDA

AIDA Cruises refueled its AIDAprima cruise ship for the first time Sept. 5 in the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, using 100 percent renewable bio marine fuel (BMF100) as part of a pilot project to evaluate the fuel performance in regular ship operations for potential for future use.

The biofuel is produced entirely from advanced feedstocks organic waste or residue.

The BMF100 supplied by Varo Energy is expected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 85 percent compared to conventional fossil fuels.

“We are focused on identifying advanced fuels and technologies we can use to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions,” said Felix Eichhorn, the president of AIDA Cruises. “In our search for the fuel mix of the future, we have been gathering valuable experience through trials using various biofuels since 2022, and we continue to closely cooperate with experts from industry and science to develop new approaches to continuously reduce emissions. In order to achieve a sustainable future, we need a growing supply of biofuels and other low-carbon alternative fuels—available globally at scale and at marketable prices.”

After refueling in Rotterdam, AIDAprima will test the new biofuel during regular ship operations on upcoming voyages from Hamburg, Germany, through the fjords of Norway.

The fuel performance will help determine its potential for future use across the AIDA fleet.

“Since 2019 VARO has successfully developed, blended, and supplied a diverse range of biofuels for marine bunkering,” said Sacha Konan, an executive at Varo Energy. “Our products include B30/B100, HVO (up to 100 percent) and various low FAME biofuel blends. We are excited to supply AIDAprima, working with AIDA and Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise company. This operation, taking place near our Rotterdam office, reflects our ongoing efforts to support marine customers in their decarbonization journey as the industry adapts to new regulations. We look forward to continuing our work with AIDA and expanding our biofuel offerings in the ARA region and beyond.”

AIDA Cruises said it is important that second-generation biofuels are used on board, as they are produced exclusively from organic waste and residual materials.

Also, when compared to other technological innovations, using biofuels in regular ship operations is uncomplicated because they can be used without major modifications to the engines and tank infrastructure of existing ships.

AIDA Cruises has been investing toward a sustainable future for cruising for many years as part of its decarbonization strategy.

In addition to trailing biofuels, AIDA Cruises is using liquefied natural gas (LNG) to deliver immediate greenhouse-gas emission reductions in the absence of market-ready zero-emission maritime fuels.

AIDA Cruises also is expanding its use of alternative energy sources such as shore power to operate ships in port, as well as onboard batteries to store extra energy for use during peak engine operation to reduce fuel use.

Together with various partners, the cruise company is working intensively on further solutions for using renewable and synthetic fuels.

AIDA Cruises was one of the first in Carnival’s family of cruise lines to test biofuels and was among the first to conduct live biofuel tests on working cruise ships globally.

The cruise line’s biofuel tests support the overall Carnival sustainability mission, including its aspiration to achieve net-zero emissions from ship operation by 2050.

AIDA Cruises is working with Varo Energy for the first time on this fuel test.

As one of the leaders in the introduction of low-carbon fuels for marine the Swiss-based company has taken an innovative blending approach which results in a high-quality marine biofuel that can be used as a drop-in alternative to mineral-based marine fuels without compromising on engine performance.

The blend is entirely based on waste and residue streams not suitable for food or animal feed application.