Costa Cruises’ 10-Million-Euro Terminal Extension Plan About to Finish

Costa Cruises’ 10 million euro terminal extension plan is due for completion by early 2010. The official inauguration has taken place of the third berth at the Savona Palacrociere, the cruise terminal managed by Costa Cruises.

The occasion was also marked by the unveiling of a plaque on one side of the pier, commemorating the visit to Savona on May 17 this year by Pope Benedict XVI and his departure by helicopter from this very spot.

The new berth was made possible by “straightening” the existing pier following the transfer of the “Azimut” and “W Service” yards to the 2/3 zone of the port; work began on the project in 2007. Some 325 meters in length, the additional berth will allow the terminal to handle up to three cruise ships and 8,000 passengers at a time. The Savona Port Authority has invested a total of 8.7 million euros in the construction of the new facility.

The pier was officially used for the first time for the arrival of the Costa flagship Costa
Concordia (114,500 gross tonnage and total Guest capacity of 3780), which departs from Savona every Monday on 7-day Western Mediterranean cruises.

Also docked at the Palacrociere, at “Calata delle Vele” pier, was the Costa Mediterranea (87,500 gross tonnage and accommodation for 2680 Guests), which is currently deployed on the three Grand Anniversary Cruises (October 26, November 3 and 11) with a special dedicated program celebrating the Italian Company’s 60-year history.

The availability of the new berth will consolidate the Savona cruise terminal’s position as a leading player in the Mediterranean. In 2009 Costa’s ships are expected to make a total of 182 calls in Savona with 740,000 passenger movements, an increase of over 10 percent on the figures for 2008.

The extensions to the Palacrociere comprise not only the new berth but also the addition of a second terminal alongside the existing facility. The upgrading project should be completed by the beginning of 2010 and will be financed entirely by Costa Cruises, with a total investment worth some 10 million euros.