Copenhagen Advances Maritime Energy Transition: Shore Power Facility Inaugurated at Oceankaj – AIDAnova First User

Copenhagen, Denmark – On June 2, 2025, the Danish capital took a significant step towards a more environmentally friendly cruise industry. King Frederik X of Denmark officially inaugurated the new shore power facility at the Oceankaj cruise terminal. The ceremony was also attended by Dan Jørgensen, EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, and Thomas Danielsen, the Danish Minister of Transport. AIDA Cruises' AIDAnova was the first vessel to benefit from this technology, receiving low-emission power from the mainland during its layover. For AIDA Cruises, Copenhagen is the 14th European port where its fleet can utilize shore power. With 73 scheduled calls by five AIDA ships in 2025, the Danish metropolis is a central hub for the cruise line in Northern Europe.

Bild: AIDA Cruises

All news also on X formerly Twitter

Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, emphasized the importance of this event: "The commissioning of the shore power facility in Copenhagen is a crucial advancement for the maritime energy transition in Northern Europe. AIDA and our Danish partners share the resolute goal of driving forward the expansion and use of shore power infrastructure in ports." Eichhorn also referred to a commitment made to Cruise Baltic in 2022: "We have once again demonstrated our dedication. With our investments in this forward-looking technology, we are actively supporting the European Union's ambitions to establish shore power infrastructure in all major EU ports by 2030."

Barbara Scheel Agersnap, CEO of the Port of Copenhagen Malmö, also expressed a positive view: "The inauguration of the shore power facility for cruise ships is a proud moment for our port and a significant milestone in the sector's transformation towards more environmentally friendly technologies. We are pleased to supply cruise lines like AIDA Cruises with clean energy during their port stays." This initiative is an integral part of the port's sustainability strategy, which includes fossil-free terminal operations and achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2025. Agersnap reaffirmed the joint commitment with partners to a more sustainable future for the maritime economy.

AIDA Cruises acted as a pilot partner in the technical preparations in Copenhagen, providing the AIDAnova for necessary tests. The company's extensive experience with shore power usage in other European ports such as Hamburg, Kiel, Warnemünde, Oslo, Southampton, Rotterdam, and Stockholm significantly contributed to the project's realization. With the new facility in Copenhagen, the network of shore power-capable ports for AIDA ships expands to 14 locations in seven European countries.

In 2024, AIDA Cruises utilized shore power during 360 port calls, a fivefold increase compared to the previous year. For 2025, thanks to the commissioning of further facilities, over 500 calls with shore power supply are planned. This enables AIDA ships to switch off their main engines and connect to land-based electricity during nearly every second port stay in Northern Europe.

Beyond shore power utilization, AIDA Cruises is investing in various alternative energy sources, including batteries and biofuels, and is exploring the future use of synthetic fuels. As part of Carnival Corporation & plc, the cruise line aims to achieve net-zero emissions in its ship operations by 2050.