There were some doubts about whether the ship would be scrapped, where it would be scrapped, and if she would become a hotel ship. Scrapping is the preferred choice according to several sources for Costa Victoria.
Costa Cruises and Carnival Corporation had sold the vessel in the summer of 2020 to Genova Industrie Navali Srl. The company, which falls under the GIN group, owns multiple shipyards, and the idea was to use the vessel as accommodation for workers and ship crew during dry docks and construction work.
After more than six months of uncertainty, these plans fell through, and the shipyard decided to scrap the ship.
Vessel Will Be Towed To Turkey
As Costa Victoria is no longer considered seaworthy, she will be towed to the shipbreaking yard in Izmir, Turkey, by the ship tug Vos Chablis. The tug is already in the port of Piombino, where Costa Victoria is also docked.
Costa Victoria was handed over to Costa Cruises in July 1996. Built as a first of three vessels, Costa Victoria has two sisters in its series, but these were never put into service for Costa.
While construction for the second vessel in the series was ongoing, the shipyard went bankrupt, and the second and third vessels were never delivered. Costa Olympia, as the hull of the second vessel was known at the time, was bought up by Norwegian Cruise Line. She was completed together with her other sister in the Lloyd Werft and named Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun.
Costa Victoria was built to carry 2,394 passengers, was 252 meters long, and weighed 75,166 gross tons when launched on July 10, 1996. It is currently not known when she will be beached.
List of Scrapped Ships Is Getting Longer By The Day
Carnival Corporation’s relentless rejuvenation efforts have profoundly impacted many older ships in the Carnival fleet. There is a good reason for the company to rid itself of these older vessels.
In a world where money talks, the older ships represented 12% of the total capacity, while operating income for the same vessels was at a mere 3%. There was no valid reason for Carnival Corporation to hang on to these ships except for sentimental value.
The arrival of the larger, LNG fueled ships like Carnival’s Mardi Gras, P&O Cruises Iona, and Costa Cruises flagship Costa Smeralda signals a new age for cruises. New, larger vessels with more space and more facilities for passengers, and because they run on liquified natural gas, they are better for the environment.
Carnival Corporation has said last year it plans to offload 18 ships from the fleet. These are so far:
- Costa Cruise: Costa Atlantica, Costa Mediterranea, Costa Victoria, Costa neoRomantica
- Holland America Line: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Maasdam, Veendam
- P&O Cruises: Oceana
- Carnival Cruises: Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Fascination
- P&O Australia: Pacific Dawn, Pacific Aria
- Princess Cruises: Sun Princess, Sea Princess
Also Read: Which Cruise Ships are Being Scrapped or Sold Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
There is still one ship that remains unknown. Carnival Corporation already increased the number of vessels to be sold or scrapped twice in the last year; therefore, it is not sure this will be the end of it.
Main Photo Credit: Hit1912 / Shutterstock.com
