Inauguration of the updated cruise Calata delle Vele quay in Savona

Savona, 14 November 2019 - The inaugural ceremony was presided over by the Mayor of the City Ilaria Caprioglio, the President of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti, the President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority Paolo Emilio Signorini and the Director General of Costa Crociere, Neil Palomba, with the blessing of monsignor Angelo Magnano.

The investment programme for the renovation of the quay, financed by the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, and the refurbishment of the terminal, funded by Costa Cruises, totalled approximately 22 million euros. Consequently, the cruise line has returned on schedule to its traditional quay where over the last fifteen years millions of passengers have disembarked, thereby consolidating the role of Savona as one of the leading cruise ports in Italy and in Europe overall.

The construction works, completed within the specified timeframe, have updated the dedicated quay to cater for the vessel requirements of the latest generation of cruise ships. This called for an increase in depth alongside from 9 metres to 11 metres and a reinforcement of quays 9 and 10, in addition to the installation of scaffolding supported by pillars along quay 8. The 17-million euro project, implemented by the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority and carried out by the construction companies Fincosit Srl and RCM Costruzioni. has successfully met the deadline for the arrival of the Costa Diadema.

The works on the quay and on Palacrociere Terminal 1 were conducted ahead of the arrival of Costa Smeralda, the new Costa flagship due to call at Savona every Saturday from 21 December 2019. Costa Smeralda. The new cruise ship represents a turning point in minimising environmental impact as the vessel will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the world's cleanest fossil fuel. The employment of LNG can eliminate almost totally emissions of sulphur oxide and reduce sharply emissions of nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide.