Costa Smeralda which is delayed due to complex construction has successfully completed sea trials with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Costa Smeralda Completes Sea Trials
One of the largest new cruise ships to enter service in 2019 has successfully completed sea trials while in the final stages of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. It’s an important aspect of seaworthiness and the ship would not be able to be delivered if not passed.
The sea trials began on Saturday, November 16 and the new generation vessel carries out a series of tests including operation of systems, equipment and engines with LNG propulsion.
Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises commented:
“The fueling of cruise ships with LNG is an innovation in which we were the first to believe five years ago, when we ordered the Costa Smeralda, setting an example for the sector which has since been followed by other companies.
It is a safe and reliable technology, which is currently the most effective and feasible solution to ensure a significant reduction in the environmental impact of cruise ships in port and at sea.”
Once sea trials were completed the Costa Smeralda returned to the shipyard in Finland to finalize the interior fitting out. The ship will soon be delivered just before the end of the year. The ship will debut from Savona, Italy on December 21, 2019 and the ship will remain sailing Mediterranean cruises in the region until May 16, 2020.
The ship has already been delayed twice as she was originally scheduled to enter service in the middle of October but was first delayed until her debut sailing on November 30 but was then set back again until December 21. The reasons were the complex construction of the LNG powered vessel and the size of the project as she’s the first of this class ever constructed by that actual shipyard.
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Once completed, Costa Smeralda will be 180,000 gross tons and the largest ever Costa cruise ship. She is one of many new LNG ships ordered by parent company the Carnival Corporation. Similar vessels are also being constructed or on order for P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Aida Cruises.
Photo: Costa Cruises
