According to a recent statement of Italian cruise line Costa Cruises, the Costa Smeralda, its new flagship has made its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueling in Barcelona, after leaving the Turku shipyard on Friday December 6.
Barcelona is the first port to welcome Costa Smeralda after the ship left Meyer shipyard in Turku, where it was built; the next port of call will be Savona.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
With one complete LNG tank filling, which is estimated to be carried out in Barcelona once the ship starts its regular cruises, Costa Smeralda can be powered for at least two weeks.
Namely, the “Coral Methane” tanker ship filled Costa Smeralda’s three tanks with a total of around 3,200 cubic meters of LNG. Two of these tanks measure about 35 meters in length and 8 meters in diameter, each with a capacity of 1,525 cubic meters. A third tank, measuring 5 meters in diameter, is 28 meters long and has a capacity of around 520 cubic meters.
All three are built with steel called “cryogenic”, covered with special insulating materials and installed in specific protected spaces.
Costa Cruises add that
the use of LNG in the cruise sector is a real global innovation that ensures a low environmental impact and a significant improvement in air quality.
In fact, it is said that LNG allows the virtual elimination of sulfur dioxide emissions, zero emissions, and particulate matter accounting to a 95-100% reduction, further reducing emissions of nitrogen oxide significantly, by a direct reduction of 85% as well as a reduction of up to 20% of CO2.
Costa Smeralda is the first Costa Cruises ship to be fueled by LNG both in port and at sea. The Costa Group, including Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia, is a pioneer to introduce this sustainable innovation.
What is more, Costa Cruises has ordered a total of five new ships fueled by LNG to be delivered by 2023 and destined to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the entire fleet.
On Saturday, December 21, Costa Smeralda will sail from Savona on its first 1-week cruise, calling at Marseilles, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia and La Spezia.