EUROPA 2 successfully uses shore power in North America for the first time

• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises uses call at San Diego for supply of shore power
• Shore power utilisation as an important component in reducing CO₂ emissions
• Premiere route for the EUROPA 2 along the West Coast of America

Last Monday, the EUROPA 2 used shore power in a port outside Europe for the first time – during its call at San Diego, California. Now that the small luxury ship from the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet has been regularly using shore power at the Cruise Center Hamburg Altona and the Ostseekai in Kiel, San Diego is the first port in North America to be added to the list.

Double premiere for the EUROPA 2: while the small luxury ship is travelling along the diverse West Coast of America, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has used its maiden call at San Diego to promote the use of shore power outside Europe as well. Sailing from San Francisco to Colon, guests on this special route await experiences including the world’s most famous suspension bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, glamorous Hollywood flair in Los Angeles and a daytime passage through the Panama Canal. For the first time, the EUROPA 2 is making stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Bahia Magdalena, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Puerto Quetzal and Puntarenas on this cruise – making it a route full of firsts for the ship, crew and guests.

In 2020, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises used the EUROPA 2’s pandemic-related lay time in Hamburg to complete testing for the successful use of the shore power system at the Cruise Center Altona and have it approved by the DNV. Since then, the EUROPA 2 is able to use shore power anywhere in the world wherever this energy supply is available. The use of shore power significantly reduces CO₂ and pollutant emissions in the port. There are currently around 25 ports worldwide with shore power systems for cruise ships. “The use of shore power is a key component of our sustainability strategy and enables virtually climate-neutral ship operations in the port. For this year, we are currently planning around 20 more calls in nine ports worldwide where we will use shore power across the entire fleet,” says Julian Pfitzner, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, about the plans of the leading provider of luxury and expedition cruises in the German-speaking market.

By 2030, TUI Group’s cruise operators, including Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, are set to reduce their absolute CO₂e emissions by more than a quarter (27.5 %) compared to 2019. These ambitious emission reduction targets have been independently and scientifically verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative. The main levers for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ ambitious decarbonisation programme are the optimisation of itineraries and speeds, operational and technical energy efficiency measures, the use of sustainable and climate-friendly biofuels and the continuous expansion of the use of shore power. The EUROPA 2 was the first cruise ship in the world to be fitted with SCR catalytic converters. The catalytic converters reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by almost 95 per cent.

After San Diego, the EUROPA 2 will use shore power in seven more ports in the course of the year. Montreal will be another first in North America. Shore power will also be available in the Norwegian ports of Oslo, Bergen, Alesund and Kristiansand as well as at the Cruise Center in Hamburg Altona and at the Ostseekai in Kiel.

Example cruise
On the Christmas cruise, guests on board the EUROPA 2 will explore the exotic nature of New Zealand and idyllic islands in the South Pacific. On its way from Auckland to Lautoka via the New Zealand ports of Mount Maunganui (Tauranga), Picton and Bay of Islands, onwards via New Caledonia, Vanuatu and various stops in the Fiji Islands, the small luxury ship will take its guests to bubbling geysers, coral reefs and white sandy beaches during the festive period and at the turn of the year. From 18 Dec 2024 to 7 Jan 2025 (20 days), bookable in the SILVER fare from € 14,790 per person, double occupancy, cruise only. For more information, visit: www.hl-cruises.com/EUX2500

Reservations: International guests, as well as travel agencies, can call 877-445-7447 or 800-334-2724 to book a cruise or send an email to salesteam(at)hl-cruises.com or visit www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services for local agents.

For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ exciting destinations and itineraries, visit www.hl-cruises.com. All press releases and a picture gallery can be found at www.hl-cruises.com/press. 

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