Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/926592
B M & T ••• November/December2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 31 Corporation's Costa Cruises brand will debut the industry's next cruise ship that can be powered completely by LNG on the open seas in 2019 – the first steel-cutting ceremony for this ship took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in September. LNG-powered ships for Carnival Cruise Line and P&O Cruises (UK) will follow in 2020. Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises will each receive an additional LNG-powered ship in 2021, followed by an additional LNG-powered ship for Carnival Cruise Line in 2022. PIONEERING LNG FUEL FOR THE CRUISE INDUSTRY In October 2016, Carnival Corporation signed a framework agreement with Shell Western LNG B.V. (Shell) to be its sup- plier of marine LNG to power the first two of its new LNG ships for AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises with itineraries vis- iting popular European ports. As part of the agreement, the ships will utilize Shell's infrastructure in cruise ports to refuel with LNG throughout their itineraries. The vessels, equipped with dual-fuel engines, are the first of a new generation of cruise ships fully powered by LNG both while in port and at sea – an industry first and an environmental breakthrough that will improve air quality with cleaner emissions. In 2015, as a pilot project, AIDAsol from the company's AIDA Cruises brand was the first cruise ship in the world to be supplied with power by an LNG Hybrid barge and, last year, the newly delivered AIDAprima became the first cruise ship to routinely use LNG with a dual-fuel powered engine while in port. Its sister ship, AIDAperla, debuted this April with the same technology. In additional to utilizing LNG, Carnival Corporation and its brands implement extensive measures to deliver on its commit- ment to continue to keep guests and crew members safe and comfortable, protect the environment, develop and provide opportunities for its workforce, strengthen its stakeholder rela- tions and enhance the communities in which the company visits and operates. Those measures are detailed in the company's recently released 2016 sustainability report and newly created sustainability website . About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the world's largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of 10 dynamic brands that include nine of the world's leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK), as well as Fathom, the corporation's immer- sion and enrichment experience brand. Together, the corporation's cruise lines operate 103 ships with 231,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 17 new ships scheduled to be deliv- ered between 2018 and 2022. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only dual listed compa- ny in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices. In 2017, Fast Company recog- nized Carnival Corporation as being among the "Top 10 Most Innovative Companies" in both the design and travel cate- gories. Fast Company specifically recognized Carnival Corporation for its work in developing Ocean Medallion™, a high-tech wearable device that enables the world's first interac- tive guest experience platform capable of transforming vaca- tion travel into a highly personalized and elevated level of cus- tomized service. Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.fatom.org, www.hollandamerica.com, www.princess.com, www.seabourn.com, www.aida.de, www,costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.pocruises.com.au and www.po- cruises.com. Carnival Keel Laying Ceremony