AIDAnova was the first cruise ship to use liquefied natural gas as its primary fuel when it entered service in 2018.
Built for AIDA Cruises, AIDAnova was designed around dual-fuel propulsion, with LNG as the main fuel for its engines. LNG produces substantially lower sulfur oxide and particulate emissions than conventional marine fuel, although it remains a fossil fuel and can have methane-emission concerns.
The ship entered service in December 2018 and became the first of AIDA’s Helios-class vessels. Its arrival marked an important step in the cruise industry’s effort to reduce certain forms of air pollution while complying with increasingly strict maritime emissions rules.
Later ships from Carnival Corporation and other cruise groups also adopted LNG propulsion, including Costa Smeralda and Mardi Gras. AIDAnova is therefore notable for being first in cruise service, not for being the only LNG-powered passenger ship.