Costa Cruises takes delivery of LNG-fueled Costa Smeralda
Costa Smeralda was delivered to Costa Cruises from Meyer Turku shipyard and will sail towards Barcelona. The ship is one of the most innovative, and some would claim, the most beautiful ships ever built at Turku shipyard.
“Costa Smeralda will be a further boost to the use of LNG in cruise ships, a technology we were the first to believe in, setting a new course in the cruise sector. Our Costa Group has invested in the construction of five new LNG ships as part of our leadership in sustainable tourism. It is an innovation in the cruise and overall shipping industries, destined to mark a step change as it guarantees a significant reduction in our environmental impact without compromising the safety aspects that are an essential priority for us”. - said Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises. “Costa Smeralda is a significant product innovation as well, with Italian hospitality remaining a fundamental and distinctive element of our brand, able to enchant and excite not only new cruise passengers but also more experienced ones".
Costa Smeralda is leading the LNG revolution in cruise ships, being part of the first LNG-powered cruise ship class in the world. The usage of LNG as fuel will cut down all small-particles and sulfur oxide emissions and significantly reduce nitrogen oxide and CO2 emissions of the ship.
Costa Smeralda is a breakthrough project featuring creative Italian design and innovative spaces for the guests to enjoy.
“We have used all our knowledge, skills and imagination to design and build this ship. I would especially like to mention the Colosseo, a three-deck open area in the middle of the ship with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology inside which required a specific design and building capabilities. We are looking forward to the passengers enjoying some exceptional shows and performances there”, CEO of Meyer Turku, Jan Meyer, states.
“We trust that the passengers will very much appreciate the design, quality and features of the ship during their coming holidays. The exceptional upper deck areas and the Spanish stairs in the aft of the ship will be a treat in warm Mediterranean weathers”, Jan Meyer envisions.
Costa Smeralda is truly a traveling “smart city”. Apart from the major innovation of liquefied natural gas, the ship incorporates a series of cutting-edge technological innovations designed to further reduce environmental impact. The daily water requirement is achieved directly from the sea thanks to the ship’s desalination systems. Energy consumption is reduced to a minimum by using LED lights, recovering the heat generated by the engines, the particular shape of the hull designed to significantly reduce drag in the water, and new- generation elevators that recover energy by re-introducing it into the electricity system.