AIDAcosma Completes Second Year of LNG Operation: 30 Percent CO₂ Reduction Compared to Heavy Fuel Oil Ships
The AIDAcosma completed its second full year of LNG propulsion in 2024. Carnival Corporation reports a 30 percent CO₂ reduction and 99 percent lower sulphur emissions compared to heavy fuel oil.
22. April 2026
AIDA Cruises has presented an initial environmental assessment for the AIDAcosma (in service since 2022) after two years of operation. The figures support Carnival Corporation's LNG strategy.
The concrete figures
- CO₂ reduction: 30 percent compared to comparable heavy fuel oil ships
- Sulphur emissions: 99 percent lower
- Nitrogen oxides: 85 percent lower
- Particulate matter: practically eliminated
Methane slip remains a point of contention
Critics point to methane slip values (unburned methane from the engine) — a greenhouse gas with a greater impact than CO₂. AIDA reports that modern four-stroke engines keep slip below 1 percent.
The next steps
The Helios class (AIDAnova, AIDAcosma) remains, for now, AIDA's last LNG generation. Carnival is already working on methanol-capable propulsion concepts for the generation after next.