Last week, the hull of what will be the second LNG- powered ship in the Costa Cruises fleet began to be assembled. LNG is considered the cleanest fossil fuel in the world. The Costa Toscana, sister ship to the Costa Smeralda which entered service on December 21st, will begin to take shape in the shipyard's dry dock in the coming weeks.
Thanks to the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG), this new generation of ships will contribute to reducing environmental impact. LNG-powered vessels will significantly improve air quality by eliminating 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). Both ships are part of a Costa Group expansion plan that will invest more than six billion euros in the addition of seven new ships by 2023, five of which will be LNG-powered.
Following the tradition of these naval ceremonies, commemorative coins were placed on the ship's keel as a symbol of good luck for the crew and passengers on future voyages. This symbolic moment, attended by top representatives of Costa Cruises and the Meyer shipyard in Turku, also included the presence of Minna Arve, the mayor of Turku, Finland, who served as the event's godmother.
Neil Palomba, CEO of Costa Cruises, SpA, commented: “This ceremony represents another step forward in the use of LNG in the cruise industry. We were the first in the world to commit to this innovative technology five years ago when we commissioned these new ships, initiating a transformation towards increasingly sustainable tourism. Currently, LNG is the solution that allows us to achieve the best and most immediate results in terms of reducing the environmental impact of our ships.”
Jan Meyer, CEO of the Meyer shipyard in Turku, stated: “The Costa Toscana will feature a unique and inspiring design, and this event marks the beginning of the ship's hull assembly. From here, all design and construction efforts will begin to transform it into a real vessel.”
The inaugural cruise aboard the Costa Toscana will depart from Hamburg on June 28, 2021: a 14-day voyage to Savona with a program that includes two-day, one-night stops in Lisbon, Barcelona, and Marseille, three of Europe's most beautiful coastal cities. Throughout the summer of 2021 and until the first week of November, the Costa Toscana will offer week-long cruises to discover the culture, art, and beaches of the Western Mediterranean, with stops in Savona, Naples, Cagliari, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, and Marseille. From mid-November 2021 through Easter 2022, the itinerary will replace Naples and Cagliari with Palermo and Civitavecchia/Rome.
Cruises aboard the Costa Toscana are now available for booking both online and through travel agencies.
