Genoa, July 5, 2018. Costa Cruises today held the traditional coin-throwing ceremony for its new ship, the Costa Smeralda, at the Meyer shipyard in Turku (Finland), one of the world's largest shipbuilding complexes.
Costa Smeralda, which will enter service in 2019, will be the first cruise ship marketed to consumers worldwide, especially in Europe and Italy, powered entirely by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the world's cleanest fossil fuel.
Equipped with dual-fuel engines, the Costa Smeralda will be powered by LNG, both in port and at sea—an environmental achievement that will improve air quality, as LNG almost entirely eliminates particulate matter and sulfur oxide emissions in port and at sea. It also significantly reduces nitrogen oxide and CO2 emissions.
The Costa Smeralda is further proof of the pioneering and innovative spirit that characterizes Costa Group, market leader in Europe and Asia with the companies Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia.
During the ceremony, commemorative coins were placed in the ship's keel as a symbol of good luck for the crew, passengers, and future voyages. This symbolic moment, part of the shipbuilding tradition, was celebrated with an event attended by Costa Cruises and representatives from the Meyer Turku shipyard. Elisiana Moraci, a 28-year-old Italian from Messina and Second Deck Officer in the Costa fleet, served as the event's godmother.
“We celebrate this symbolic moment for our new ship with great enthusiasm,” declared Neil Palomba, CEO of Costa Crociere SpA. “With the advancements made in fuel technology thanks to LNG, Costa Smeralda represents a major innovation in the international market and a significant step forward, setting new standards for the entire sector. Costa Group is a market leader in Europe and Asia, and we continue to make sustainable tourism a key part of our industry leadership. Our strategy, based on continuous innovation and improvement, will give a significant boost to the development of LNG as an alternative fuel for the cruise industry.”
Costa Group, together with its sister companies within the global portfolio of Carnival Corporation, has been a leader in its industry in promoting and developing sustainable and environmental solutions.
In addition to using LNG on cruise ships, the companies that make up Costa Group and Carnival Corporation have also been industry pioneers in the use of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) in the vicinity of cruise ships. Considered an environmental achievement, EGCS is installed on approximately 60% of the ships in the Costa Group and Carnival Corporation fleet.
The use of LNG and ECGS will play a key role in enhancing the impact of Costa Group's marine operations.
“The coin ceremony marks the beginning of the ship's hull assembly. From this point forward, all the effort invested in the design and construction will begin to materialize into a real ship, making this a very exciting moment for us, the shipbuilders. We are delighted that Costa Cruises has entrusted us with the design and construction of this sophisticated LNG-powered vessel, which will feature a unique architectural design that truly embodies the Costa spirit. Now, it's time for us to bring all our designs and plans to life,” stated Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku.
Palomba added: “In addition to being a ship that represents the latest advances in fuel technology and environmental impact, Costa Smeralda and its sister ship, which we will receive in 2021, will also be unique in terms of onboard services and design. They will best represent our company's promise to bring our passengers “the best of Italy,” something that differentiates and characterizes Costa Cruises internationally. Costa Smeralda will allow us to welcome both our current customers and those who are not yet among them, in the fascinating and immersive environment of a state-of-the-art cruise ship, offering them an unforgettable vacation experience.”
In total, Costa Group has 26 ships in service, representing 74,000 berths. Between 2018 and 2023, the company will add seven new ships to its fleet: two for Costa Cruises, two for Costa Asia, and three for AIDA Cruises, representing a total investment of over €6 billion. Once these seven new ships are operational, Costa Group's capacity will increase by more than 50% to meet the growing consumer demand for cruises in the coming years.
With a gross tonnage of 180,000, the Costa Smeralda will have more than 2,600 rooms and will begin operating in October 2019. The delivery of a second ship, the sister ship of the Costa Smeralda and also built by Meyer-Turku, is scheduled for 2021.
Costa Smeralda and its sister ship will be the first globally marketed ships to use LNG to generate 100% of their energy, both in port and at sea, contributing to environmental protection and achieving the ambitious sustainability goals set by Costa Cruises and its parent company Carnival Corporation & plc.
The Costa Smeralda is scheduled to debut on October 20, 2019, with avernissage sailing from Hamburg to Savona, Italy. The itinerary includes two-day stops in some of Europe's most historically and culturally rich cities, such as Rotterdam, Lisbon, Barcelona, and Marseille.
The christening ceremony of the Costa Smeralda will be celebrated in grand style in Savona on November 3, 2019. The inaugural 6-day cruise will depart from Savona on November 4, 2019, bound for Barcelona, Marseille, and Civitavecchia (Rome). Afterward, the Costa Smeralda will continue sailing the Western Mediterranean until April 2020, offering week-long itineraries that include Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia, and La Spezia.
Cruises aboard the Costa Smeralda are now available for booking.
