Finnish Yard Starts On 2nd Costa LNG Ship

The Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland has cut the first steel on a second LNG-fuelled ship ordered by Italian cruise line Costa Cruises.

The Turku-based shipbuilder aims to deliver the vessel, Costa Toscana, in 2021, it said in a July 30 statement. The company began work on its first vessel for Costa, Costa Smeralda, in 2017, with delivery expected this October.

“LNG propulsion for cruise ships is a major innovation, pioneering a new era in the use of low carbon fuels that will significantly reduce exhaust emissions to help protect the environment without compromising on safety, in line with our top priority,” Costa president Neil Palomba was quoted as saying.

Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana are two of seven ships ordered by Costa under a €1bn ($1.1bn) fleet expansion. The pair have gross tonnage of around 180,000 and are equipped with four engines each.

Meyer Turku won an order for two more LNG-powered cruise ships earlier this month from Royal Caribbean, with delivery due in 2022 and 2024.