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Port of Savona: Cruise Areas and Services Concession Extended to 2044. The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority and Costa Cruises Will Invest Around 24 Million Euros in 2019

Savona, December 14, 2018 – Today, at the Palacrociere terminal, theWesternLigurian Sea Port Authority and Costa Cruises signedthe renewal of the contract to extend until2044 the concession to theItalian company for the cruise areas and services of the port of Savona.

Theevent was attended by Paolo EmilioSignorini, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority and Neil Palomba, Presidentof Costa Cruises, who signed the new agreement in the presence of Giovanni Toti, President of the LiguriaRegion and Ilaria Caprioglio, Mayorof Savona, as a demonstration of the importance of this moment for the futuredevelopment of the port of Savona.

Paolo Emilio Signorini, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority stated: "The development of the cruise industry inGenoa and Savona is a key component of the Port Authority's mission and a focalpoint of investment programmes currently underway to fund infrastructureprojects in this thriving segment of the Ligurian ports. The Port Authority'scommitment has been flanked by a sizable investment programme implemented byCosta Cruises to upgrade thehomeport facilities (a total of over 20million euros). Savona and Genoa rank amongst the Top 10 Italian cruise ports,with the National and Regional Tourist Agencies forecasting further increasesin passenger traffic in 2019, thereby consolidating Liguria's position asItaly's premier regional cruise destination. This is an important recognitionfor Genoa and Savona's cruise industry in the aftermath of the tragic collapseof the Morandi Bridge last August."

"Savona is the main home port ofCosta Cruises, where we generate an annual traffic of over 800,000 passengers"- said Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises – "This new agreementis a further success in our fruitful collaboration with the Port Authoirity,and lays even more solid and long-lasting foundations for the investments wehave already decided to make to adapt the Palacrociere in preparation for thearrival of Costa Smeralda, our new flagship, at the end of 2019".

"The cruise sector remainsstrategic for Liguria and for the development of its tourism sector, which is afundamental asset for the economic recovery of this region. - confirms the President of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti – The extension to 2044 of the concession issynonymous with a wide-ranging and long-term project, which aims to enhancewhat is the most important cruise hub in Liguria, which is now ready to becomea leader in Italy and Europe. The agreement signed today also confirms theclose link between Liguria and Costa, a company with strong roots in Liguria, acompany that operates and gives work in the land where it was founded and whereit has been operating for 70 years ".

Ilaria Caprioglio,Mayor of Savona, commented: "The Municipal Administrationwelcomes the signing of this important document, which is fundamental for theprosecution of economic development of our city and of the surroundingterritory, not only in the tourism sector. An agreement resulting from asynergistic work, in order to continue to host Costa Cruises main home port inSavona. From our side, we will reinforce our commitment to make the city moreand more welcoming for the many cruise passengers who have the opportunity toknow and make Savona known in the world ".

OnNovember 3, 2019, Savona itself will host the naming ceremony for the new Costa Smeralda flagship (180,000 tonnesand 2,612 rooms), currently under construction in the Meyer shipyard in Turku(Finland). From November 9, 2019 until spring 2021, Costa Smeralda will be inSavona every Saturday for a 1-week itinerary calling at Marseilles, Barcelona,Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia/Rome and La Spezia.

Inpreparation for the arrival of Costa Smeralda, major work will soon begin inthe Savona cruise port, for a total investment of around 24 million euros. The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority will be deepening the sea bedin front of the Palacrociere main cruise terminal quay to increase the draughtfrom the current -9 m asl to -11 m asl, after consolidation of thestructure. The total cost of the work isestimated to be 19.35 million euros.Costa Cruises will invest a total of 4.5million euros to buy two new fingers and adapt the structure of thePalacrociere main cruise terminal by reorganizing the spaces and flows. Thework will not interfere with the operation of the port, where Costa ships areexpected to make 155 calls in 2019.

CostaSmeralda will be the first cruise ship for the global market to be powered byLNG, both in port and at sea. The newflagship will also be the best expression of the Italy's finest concept thatcharacterizes the Costa brand internationally. It will offer complete innovations, but also further developments ofproduct features that are enjoying the greatest success on ships already inservice. Four internationally-renowned design companies have been selected tocreate the interiors - Dordoni Architetti, Jeffrey Beers International, PartnerShip Design and Rockwell Group – under the guidance of creative director AdamD. Tihany.

For furtherinformation:

Costa Cruises Press Office

Tel. 010 5483523 / 010 5483068 -costapressoffice@costa.it

Gabriele Baroni -Communication Director - Cell 3497668013 - baroni@costa.it

Davide Barbano - Media Relations Manager – Tel.010.5483523 – Cell 334.6525216 - barbano@costa.it

Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mar Ligure Occidentale
Communication Department - Press Office - Marketing
Marina Monti

Tel. +39 010 2412260

Cell: +39 3316869306

E-mail: marina.monti@portsofgenoa.com

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