Costa Cruises, the leading Italian tourism group and Europe’s no. 1 cruise company, and Fincantieri, a global leader in cruise ship construction, celebrated the technical launch of the Costa Deliziosa at the Marghera yards: the first time the ship touched the sea flooding the dry-dock where she is under construction.
The Costa Deliziosa, the 15th ship of Costa’s fleet with a total tonnage of 92,700 and a capacity of 2,828 passengers, is scheduled to be delivered at the end of January 2010, after completing the interior fitting out operations. Along with her sister ship, the Costa Luminosa, she will be the fleet’s “flagship”, the most exclusive and innovative vessel designed for Costa’s “high end” customers.
The Costa Deliziosa will be the third new Costa ship delivered by the Fincantieri yards in less than one year. The Costa Luminosa, also built in Marghera, will be delivered at the end of April 2009, while the Costa Pacifica, built in the Genova-Sestri Ponente yards, will be delivered at the end of May 2009. An extraordinary and record-breaking event will be held in Genoa, on 5th June 2009 when, for the first time ever, two ships, the Costa Luminosa and the Costa Pacifica, will be christened at the same time. The official technical sea trials of the 2 ships were successfully completed just a few days ago, confirming the operating efficiency of the systems, equipment and engines. The tests were conducted during the first crossing of the Costa Luminosa and the Costa Pacifica.
“The launching of the Costa Deliziosa is real proof of the soundness of our company – declared Gianni Onorato, President of Costa Cruises – Despite the current difficulties in the tourism sector and overall economy, we are continuing the expansion plan of our fleet, that with 5 new ships is the world’s largest, for a total investment of € 2.4 billion. The strength of our brand, backed by more than 60 years of experience, and the quality of our product, are highly appreciated by our customers, who compel us to look toward with the future with confidence. A future in which thanks to the Costa Deliziosa, the Costa Luminosa and the Costa Pacifica, we will be able to expand the number and, above all, the quality of our products”.
Enrico Buschi, chief officer of operations of Fincantieri, commented: “The launch is a highly significant moment in the construction of a ship. We build to schedule and reach an unrivalled quality standard creating ships which are unique in the history of shipbuilding since we bring together cutting edge technological solutions and high standards. The relationship between Fincantieri and Costa Crociere is well-established, a true partnership of over twenty years and which bears witness to the capacity of the Italian industry to work as a system.”
Costa Cruises is the cruise line with the world’s biggest fleet expansion plan: 5 new ships (including the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Pacifica and the Costa Deliziosa) to be delivered by 2012 for a total investment of €€2.4 billion. Built in Italy by Fincantieri, each ship requires the professional expertise of about 3,000 workers from Fincantieri and roughly 500 linked industry companies, the majority of which are Italian. The 5 new ships represent a 50% increase in the capacity of the Costa fleet, Europe’s largest: in fact, in 2012, the fleet will consist of 17 vessels with a total capacity of 46,400 passengers.
