EMEA News
LNG Powered Cold Ironing Barge Set to Arrive in Hamburg
Germany's Becker Marine Systems' new liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered cold ironing barge is set to arrive in the Port of Hamburg this weekend, the company has announced.
The floating power plant was first announced in 2013 and, similar to more typical shore power based cold ironing systems, will allow cruise ships to "plug-in" to power produced by the barge's LNG powered generators during port layovers, instead of having to use a vessel's on-board diesel powered generators.
“If all goes well and the weather remains stable, the LNG Hybrid Barge should be arriving at its future home port of Hamburg on 4th or 5th October,” said Dirk Lehmann, Managing Director of Becker Marine Systems.
The vessel is currently traveling up the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers toward the port.
Once in Hamburg, the barge will be dry docked at the Blohm + Voss shipyard for final outfitting and tests, before officially becoming operational in mid-October.
Carnival's AIDA Cruises will be part of the naming ceremony, with the AIDAsol acting as the first ship to receive power from the barge.
The company added that Hamburg will be the first port in Europe to provide external, low-emission power to cruise ships.
The LNG Hybrid Barge was launched in Komárno, Slovakia earlier in September.
