Costa Cruises Commits to Savona’s Cruise Sector Growth

Costa Cruises signed a three-year memorandum of understanding on Tuesday with the Municipality of Savona and the Port Authority of Savona for sustainable development in the cruise sector in Savona.

The agreement calls for joint interventions in various areas to guarantee responsible growth of the cruise industry in Savona that, which recorded more than 1 million passengers, in 2014, according to CLIA.

This important document emphasises the signers’ commitment to work on an array of strategic themes ranging from respect for the environment to promotion and enhancement of our city and its cruise vocation through shared actions and instruments,” said Federico Berruti, Mayor of Savona.

Thanks to close cooperation between Costa, the Municipality and the Port Authority, Savona will become a long-term reference for sustainable development in the cruise sector, thereby creating economic, social and environmental value for the area ,” added Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises.

” In recent years we have made major investments in Savona, such as the construction of the Palacrociere’s second terminal, and we would like to continue to grow together with the city in a responsible manner.”

Costa Cruises2The signing of this memorandum of understanding formalises a series of mutual commitments by the signers with the clear objective of continuing to improve and, if possible, implement what was built from 1996 to the present: this includes important infrastructures and a high-level service model for cruise passengers and ships, creating numerous jobs that on peak days will reach a total of 200,” pointed out the President of the Port Authority of Savona, Gian Luigi Miazza.  

The main areas of intervention included in the agreement focus on environmental protection, social and economic impact, and communication of the results achieved.

These in particular relate to the emissions from ships in port. Costa Cruises is implementing the “Exhaust Gas Cleaning systems” on 7 of the fleet’s ships to reduce exhaust gases and replacing bulbs on board vessels with their low-consumption LED equivalents. The company has also announced the construction of the first cruise ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Those vessels are scheduled to be delivered in 2019 and 2020, with Savona to become the homeport for the first one.

Activities are also under way to monitor the noise impact of ships during port operations, with additional improvements to the current ship waste recycling and disposal process, Costa said.

The agreement also stipulates for efforts to be made in terms of training, through the organisation of professional traineeships for young people from Savona at the Palacrociere, along with courses on tourism welcoming activities for personnel who are already employed.