Turku, December 5, 2019. Costa Cruises has taken delivery of the Costa Smeralda, the company's new flagship vessel, which will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the most advanced fuel in the maritime industry and part of an innovative initiative to reduce environmental impact. The delivery ceremony took place today, December 5, at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, where the ship was also built.
Costa Smeralda is the company's first ship powered by LNG both on land and at sea. This new addition to the Costa Cruises fleet is part of an expansion plan by the Costa Group, which includes Costa Cruises, the German company AIDA Cruises, and Costa Asia. The group will invest more than six billion euros in the addition of seven new ships by 2023. Five of these vessels will be LNG-powered, including Costa Smeralda and its sister ship, Costa Toscana, which is currently under construction in Meyer Turku and scheduled for delivery in 2021.
With the arrival of the new Costa Smeralda, the Costa Group now has a total of 29 operational ships, all flying the Italian flag, reinforcing the company's leadership in Europe and China.
The use of LNG represents a major step forward in reducing environmental impact and significantly improves air quality, as it eliminates sulfur dioxide emissions (zero emissions) and particulate matter (95-100% reduction). Furthermore, this fuel also drastically reduces nitrogen oxide emissions (by 85%) and CO2 emissions (up to 20% less).
“Costa Smeralda represents a new impetus for the use of LNG in cruise ships, a technology we pioneered and which sets a new course for the sector. At the Costa Group, we have invested in the construction of five new LNG-powered ships to further strengthen our leadership in sustainable tourism. The incorporation of liquefied natural gas marks an innovative milestone in the cruise industry and the maritime industry in general, as it guarantees a significant reduction in environmental impact without compromising other fundamental aspects for us, such as the safety of our passengers,” stated Neil Palomba, CEO of Costa Cruises, SpA. “Costa Smeralda is also an innovative product that maintains a fundamental and distinctive element of our brand: Italian hospitality, which has the power to surprise not only first-time cruise passengers but also the most experienced.”
“We have used our knowledge, skill, and imagination to design and build this ship. I would also like to give special mention to the Colosseum, a three-story open-air area located in the center of the ship, which features state-of-the-art audiovisual technology that required very specific design and construction capabilities,” commented Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku.
Costa Smeralda will depart from the Turku shipyard on December 6th for a Mediterranean cruise, where it will make three public appearances: in Barcelona on December 18th, where it will be refueled with liquefied natural gas; in Marseille on December 19th; and in Savona on December 20th. On December 21st, Costa Smeralda will set sail from Savona to begin its inaugural week-long cruise, visiting Marseille, Barcelona, Palma, Civitavecchia, and La Spezia.
This new ship is a true smart city . In addition to the groundbreaking innovation of liquefied natural gas propulsion, the Costa Smeralda also boasts cutting-edge technological advancements aimed at reducing its environmental impact.
The 's daily water needs are met directly from the sea thanks to its desalination systems. Energy consumption is also minimized through the use of LED lighting, heat recovery from the engines, and new-generation elevators that reuse and feed energy back into the electrical system. Furthermore, the ship's hull has been designed with a unique shape that significantly reduces friction with the water.
In recent years, Costa Cruises has eliminated the use of single-use plastics in the vast majority of its catering services and replaced them with alternative materials, a policy it continues to implement to stay ahead of the targets of the European directive. One hundred percent of the waste generated and recycled materials, including plastic, paper, glass, and aluminum, will be used for circular economy projects.
On board the Costa Smeralda, food will also play a fundamental role, as the company will continue implementing 4GOODFOOD, a comprehensive program aimed at reducing food waste and recovering prepared but unserved food for charitable causes. In addition, the ship will feature the innovative "Taste Lab" restaurant, which, through an entertaining approach, engages guests in the importance of food sustainability.
Weighing over 180,000 tons and boasting more than 2,600 cabins, the Costa Smeralda is the result of a unique creative project led by Adam D. Tihany , designed to immerse passengers in the best of Italy in a single space. Tihany collaborated with an international team of four prestigious architectural firms, each responsible for designing different areas of the ship. All the furnishings, lighting, fabrics, and accessories—both standard items and those designed specifically for the new ship by 15 partners representing Italian excellence—were produced in Italy.
Italian design will also take center stage at CoDe – Costa Design Museum, the first museum aboard a cruise ship. This extraordinary setting also features the Solemnio Spa, several entertainment areas – including the “Colosseum” with state-of-the-art screens – themed bars thanks to collaborations with leading Italian brands, 16 restaurants and “gastronomic experience” areas, and even a new restaurant for families with children.
