AIDAluna opens shore power plant in Oslo

Cruise ships in Oslo can now be supplied with shore power during their stay in port, after the new shore power system was inaugurated.

The visiting ship for the opening was AIDAluna. At the ceremony, Vice Mayor for Culture and Business Development Anita Leirvik North, and Port of Oslo commercial director Einar Marthinussen welcomed the captain of AIDAluna, Marc-Dominique Tidow, to the pier.

With the symbolic act of cutting a ribbon, the shore power system was officially put into regular operation. This was preceded by an extensive test phase, during which AIDAluna was supplied with green energy from shore.

“We are pleased to be able to supply our AIDA ships with shore power in the port of Oslo, an important port in northern Europe. Shore power is a relevant technology for us on the way to net-zero emissions in ship operations. With the commissioning of this system, our cruise ships can now obtain green energy from shore in 12 ports in six European countries,” said AIDA Cruises senior vice president public affairs, communication and sustainability, Dirk Inger.

Mr Marthinussen added, “Thank you very much for the excellent co-operation we had during the testing. Your ship, AIDAbella, was the first to fully connect to this facility. Since then, both AIDAmar and AIDAluna have visited us, helping to reduce emissions and supporting Oslo’s ambitious climate goals. So far, 20 out of 43 cruise ships have connected to the facility. 2024 was a test year, where both Port of Oslo and the shipping companies would familiarise themselves with the facility. A connection rate of around 50% is more than we dared to hope for at this stage.”

AIDA Cruises has been considering shore power use when planning and constructing its cruise ships since 2004. Since 2024, all AIDA ships departing on cruises from German ports can be supplied with shore-side electricity during their laytime.

The system in Oslo is the fifth shore power system in Norway.