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12 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News Costa Favolosa, the new Italian-made flagship of Costa Cruises, recently took to the seas at a traditional ceremony held at Fincantieri’s Marghera at the new ship’s technical launch. The 114,500-gt Costa accommodates 3,780 guests, and will set sail on its first cruise in July 2011. This is the fourth of five new ships due for delivery between 2009 and 2012, for a total investment worth $3b. The ad- dition in spring 2012 of the Costa Favolosa’s sister ship Costa Fascinosa, also being built in Marghera, will com- plete Costa’s fleet expansion program. “Despite the ongoing effects of the eco- nomic downturn in 2010 and the uncer- tain outlook for global tourism, our fleet expansion program has continued unin- terrupted,” said Costa Crociere S.p.A. President Gianni Onorato. “The strength of our brand, which comes with a guarantee of over 60 years of experience, and the quality of our product have proved to be winning assets, highly appreciated by our customers. That is confirmed also by the positive re- sults in terms of bookings achieved this summer and forecasts suggest we will end 2010 with 2.1 million total guests for the Group as a whole, which works out to an increase of around 17% compared to last year.” At the launch, the director of the ship- yard invited the Godmother, Beatrice Siri, to cut the ribbon and the bottle of champagne duly broke against the bows of the ship. Betarice Siri, Newbuilding and Special Projects Deputy of Costa Cruises (pictured) has been directly in- volved in the construction of the fleet’s last six ships, including the Costa Favolosa, and on March 8, 2010 she re- ceived the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic from the President of the Re- public, Giorgio Napolitano. After the opening of the valves and the gradual flooding of the slipway where the ship has taken shape over the last few months, the hull of the Costa Favolosa was trans- ferred for the first time to its natural ele- ment – the sea. Favola is Italian for “fairy tale.” NEWS Costa Favolosa 114,500-gt - 3,780 guests • 4 th in series of 5 new ships Beatrice Siri
