First Section of Costa Pacifica launched in Palermo

The first section of the new 114,500 dwt and 3,780 passenger cruise ship, the Costa Pacifica, ordered by Costa Crociere has been launched from the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo.

The future bow section of the Costa Pacifica is 127 metres long, almost 30 metres high, and weighs almost 8,000 tons. It was launched using the “bow sliding” method, a technique from the past utilised for passenger liner ships: after being positioned on a slide, the section slid into the sea with the bow facing the water after the nearly 400 props supporting it were removed.

In August it will be transferred by sea to the Genoa Sestri Ponente shipyard where construction will continue, and where she is scheduled to be delivered in the spring of 2009. The Costa Pacifica will be the sister ship of the Costa Serena and the Costa Concordia, the Costa fleet’s current flagships and the largest passenger vessels flying the Italian flag. The Costa Pacifica will offer the same main innovations so highly successful on her 2 sister ships, like the Samsara wellness centre (2,154 m², one of the largest ever installed on a ship), 2 swimming pools with a roof on the same deck and the Grand Prix race car simulator.

Costa Crociere has 3 new ships on order or under construction in Italy with Fincantieri. In addition to the Costa Pacifica, 2 other ships, the Costa Luminosa (92,700 dwt and maximum capacity 2,828 passengers) and her sister will be delivered by the Marghera shipyard in the spring of 2009 and in March 2010, respectively. At the end of 2010, when the last of the 3 ships currently on order will be delivered, Costa’s fleet will be 15 vessel strong and will offer more than 30,000 lower berths.

Since 2000, Costa Crociere has invested approximately €3.5 billion in Italy to build 7 new ships, all ordered from Fincantieri. These orders are part of an expansion program worth €4.5 billion to introduce 11 ships from 2000 to 2010.

See other recent news regarding: Cruises, Costa Crociere