The historic Italian port of Savona has inaugurated the renovated Calata delle Velle cruise pier and Terminal 1 Palacrociere. The total investment, made by the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority in conjunction with Costa Cruises , amounts to €22 million. The project, completed on schedule, has adapted the port facilities to the requirements of the new generation of ships. As a result, Costa Cruises has regained access to this pier, which has seen millions of passengers disembark over the past fifteen years, making Savona one of the busiest cruise ports not only in Italy but also in Europe.
Costa Cruises has invested nearly €5 million in the renovation of Terminal 1 Palacrociere. The work has reorganized and rebuilt the entrance hall and reception area, constructed a connecting bridge between the two upper floors, and expanded the security checkpoints, including the installation of four new X-ray machines. Furthermore, to improve passenger flow, 130 meters of the terrace have been covered with a glass structure, which will now serve as an access area for cruise passengers in transit and will also house four additional X-ray machines. Costa will also finance the purchase and installation of new "on-demand" traffic lights on Via Gramsci in Savona, near the intersection in front of the shipyard, to facilitate and regulate pedestrian traffic.
The renovation of the dock and terminal has been carried out to accommodate the Costa Smeralda, the company's new flagship vessel, which will begin operations later this year. The new ship will represent a turning point for the industry and for reducing environmental impact, as it will be powered, both in port and at sea, by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel in the world. The use of LNG allows for the almost complete elimination of sulfur oxide and particulate emissions, significantly reducing nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide.
