AIDAblu

The AIDAblu, 2011 in Funchal

Germanischer Lloyd

IMO no. 9398888

The AIDAblu is a cruise ship of Carnival Corporation & plc. It is used for driving under the specially focused on the German market corporate brand AIDA Cruises. It is operated under the Italian flag by Costa Crociere in Genoa.

It is the fourth of seven nearly identical vessels of the Sphinx class and the second ship of that name. Their names predecessor was initially deleted after commissioning of the Aida Diva in spring 2007 by the parent company for use under the brand new Ocean Village, and finally, after this mark was abandoned, postponed in 2009 as Pacific Jewel to Australia.

You heard her sister-ships Aida Diva, Aida Bella and Aidaluna to Sphinx class. The plan was for her and the following ships of this class but again extended by half a deck so it was measured with 71 304 GT and, according to the classification society Germanischer Lloyd is 1.44 m longer than the lead ship Aida Diva.

History

Construction, transfer and deployment

On 22 July 2008, AIDA Cruises announced the baptismal name of the SPHINX IV project and while the sister ship Aida Luna was in dry dock, the AIDAblu was yard number S.680 on 20 October 2008 at the Meyer Werft Dock I in the presence of representative of the shipping company and shipyard laid the keel. The first building block had a weight of about 450 tons. On 7 July 2009 was set up with the chimney pot the last of the 55 building blocks. On the morning of 5 January 2010, the AIDAblu left the Dockhalle the yard and made according to tests on lifeboats and stabilizers firmly at the fitting.

With a width of 21 meters, the AIDAblu has the largest " kissing lips " of the fleet. The last brush strokes to completion were performed by seven winners who had applied for it.

The transfer of the AIDAblu across the Ems began on January 15, 2010. To ensure the best possible maneuverability, was the transfer with tug assistance and tail-first. After 16 hours, the ship reached the morning of 16 January 2010 Emskai in Emden. In the period until the planned delivery to the shipping company on 4 February 2010 concluding work and various test drives on the North Sea have been carried out. For the transfer, the EMS had to be dammed, as judged by environmentalists critical. The citizens' initiative "Save the Ems " had called for protests.

The Baptism of AIDAblu took place before the fish auction hall in Hamburg harbor on February 9, 2010. The godmother of the ship is Jette Joop. Guests of the maiden voyage experienced the baptism on board the ship with.

Use

The maiden voyage of the AIDAblu began immediately after the baptism ceremony and introduced over a period of twelve days from Hamburg to Palma de Mallorca. Following this, the ship headed for destinations in Northern Europe. In the winter of 2010/11 it was in the waters around the Canary Islands on the go.

From mid- May 2011, the AIDAblu drove in the North Sea and along the West coast of Europe. The winter spent the ship in the Persian Gulf and was in the spring of 2012 in the Red Sea on the go. After the Suez Canal was passed through. The ship took part, together with the sister ships AIDAsol and Aida Luna at the christening of the new AIDAmar during the celebration of the birthday of the port of Hamburg. After the summer tour 2012 in the Baltic Sea and winter in the Persian Gulf, the Aida Luna was used in the Mediterranean in the summer of 2013. In winter 2013/2014, the ship should visit the Canary Islands.

Ship Technology

In technical terms, the AIDAblu corresponds largely to her sister ships of the Sphinx class. It has a diesel-electric machinery, the ship with electricity and process heat supply in the four driven by diesel engines generators. The drive of the two propellers via electric motors.

Due to the higher weight of service or speed slightly lower than the previous three vessels.

Cabins and onboard facilities

In addition to the marine engineering also deck layout and equipment of the AIDAblu based largely on the standards of the Sphinx class. In comparison to the sister ships Aida Diva, Aida Bella and Aida Luna, however, the wellness and spa area to 300 square meters to 2,600 square meters has been extended., Making it one of the largest of its kind on cruise ships. 34 spa staterooms with balconies and five spa suites have direct access. Overall, the ship has 1,096 cabins, including 471 balcony staterooms features ( including 18 suites ) and 172 conventional outside cabins. The AIDAblu is the first cruise ship of AIDA Cruises, which has its own brewery on board.

The AIDAblu has a brewery in the beer of brand Hövels is brewed on board.

Incidents

From December 9 to December 11 2013, in Funchal, Madeira AIDAblu was at the pier. The ship arrived there much earlier as there was a storm warning. During the storm the AIDAblu was pressed against the pier, so the port side was heavily damaged. At the same time tore several times the hawsers, so they often had to be redesigned.