AIDA Cruises opens modernised Fleet Operations Centre

AIDA Cruises officially opened its fully modernised Fleet Operations Center (FOC) in Hamburg today, 2 September 2024. The FOC is part of Carnival Maritime GmbH (CMG), which was founded in 2015 as the maritime service unit for AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises. The embedded FOC, which is available 24/7 to cruise ships, plays a central role as the first point of contact and support centre. Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, and Keith Dowds, Executive Vice President of CMG, welcomed high-ranking representatives from politics and business to the official ceremony, including Dieter Janecek, Federal Government Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, and Dr Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

Dr Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics and Innovation, said: "Hamburg is one of the most popular cruise destinations in Europe and an important hub for the maritime industry. The Fleet Operations Centre is therefore ideally located here in Hamburg. The modernisation strengthens Hamburg as an international maritime competence centre: many players in the cruise and cargo sectors are based in Hamburg and value the expertise as well as the lively and innovative environment that makes Hamburg an attractive international location for specialists. As an important control centre, the FOC contributes to making cruises safer, more efficient and more sustainable worldwide.

"Our Fleet Operations Centre is the only one of its kind in Germany. With our extensive investment in new hardware and state-of-the-art software, specially tailored to our maritime needs, we are setting new standards in the cruise industry. The FOC team is available to our captains and officers around the clock to provide nautical and technical support,' says Eichhorn. "At the same time, this is a clear investment and commitment to Hamburg as an important international maritime centre of excellence."

All the important data from 31 cruise ships converges around the clock at the Hamburg FOC, which covers an area of more than 250 square metres. In addition to the eleven AIDA ships, there are 20 other ships from Carnival Corporation's European cruise brands. The FOC records speed, weather and navigation data, as well as various technical data from the ships' engine rooms, in near real time via satellite using fully digital ship management technology. This enables the ship's crews to plan and optimise fuel and energy consumption, routes, water management and the various logistics processes in the more than 250 ports worldwide where AIDA Cruises' cruise ships call. Among other things, this significantly reduces fuel consumption and thus the ships' emissions. A "tactical table", a type of digital work surface equipped with software, and a modern ship simulator help to present a wide range of scenarios and individual training sessions.

With the FOC, AIDA Cruises and CMG see themselves as partners and advisors to the captains and their nautical-technical management teams for all rapidly changing conditions at sea and in ports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The combination of our experienced colleagues and state-of-the-art technology ensures that we provide the best possible support to our vessels around the clock. As well as supporting normal operations, we can also simulate port entries with unusual weather conditions or ensure the most efficient routing possible,' adds Dowds. Despite all the shore-based support, one thing is clear: Ultimate responsibility and decision-making authority for the vessel always rests with the master.

Efficiency and sustainability
The FOC's state-of-the-art satellite-based monitoring system, which operates in near-real time, collects millions of pieces of data from the ships every day, which are analysed using digital algorithms. Based on this data, the itinerary is adjusted as necessary to reflect current conditions in the sailing area and optimised for maximum travel and guest comfort. The digital analysis also makes it possible to identify potential for reducing CO2 emissions in fuel and energy consumption. Fuel savings from optimal engine operation are just one example of the efficiency gains that can be achieved. Specially developed software helps to continuously improve environmental management to best protect sensitive marine ecosystems. With a global digital environmental nautical chart installed on all vessels, FOC monitors more than 500 international and national environmental protection zones, port regulations and its own regulations worldwide. Compliance with environmental regulations is a top priority for us. The previous manual approach was becoming increasingly time-consuming and complex, partly because new regulations are being issued all over the world. Our own software solution automates and streamlines the task. This will also enable us to meet future challenges," says Eichhorn.

Technical control and analysis, combined with best-practice experience, offer numerous approaches for developing innovative environmental and resource protection projects - for example for fresh water supply, wastewater treatment, recycling and waste management.

All data at a glance
The experience gained since AIDA Cruises' first FOC went into operation in 2012 was incorporated into the six-month modernisation project. On this basis, the entire hardware and software technology was replaced and brought up to the latest state of the art. An eye-catching feature is the 18 metre wide and almost 1.5 metre high video wall, which displays all relevant information such as weather, planned routes, radar images, safety zones and current energy consumption at the click of a mouse. Using software and its algorithms, the FOC team evaluates thousands of sources and millions of data points from the cruise ships every day, analysing weather conditions and making recommendations for route optimisation. The new 'Tactical Table' and 'Part Task Simulator' allow for digital simulations of upcoming manoeuvres or new routes. For example, a port entry can be simulated in high winds. The ship simulator has 150 harbour entries in its programme. The bridge of cruise ships can be added at any time. Live video images of the actual weather conditions in the ports provide additional perspectives. The open concept design also promotes collaboration between different departments, including technical, nautical, port, guest operations and environmental teams.

Around the clock, 365 days a year
An international team of 12 nautically trained superintendents support the smooth operation of the vessels at four operations desks, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They analyse, advise and provide additional information, offer assistance and organise solutions in changing weather conditions. In this way, new conditions are identified in good time, dealt with proactively and decisions made quickly.
To provide effective and professional advice to the captains on board, everyone in the department has extensive nautical experience and has been at sea for a long time. Many hold captain's licences and are certified for a wide range of cruise ship classes.

Maritime expertise concentrated in Hamburg
The extensive expansion of the FOC represents a significant investment in Hamburg as a maritime centre. Through Carnival Maritime, AIDA Cruises, together with Costa Cruises, has invested heavily in the modernisation of the FOC. The cruise line is thus demonstrating its commitment to Hamburg as one of the most important European maritime competence centres for the shipping industry. The investment not only secures and creates jobs, but also attracts top international talent to Hamburg. At the same time, it strengthens the local Hamburg economy through close cooperation with partners specialising in maritime technologies and services.