Costa introduces future flagship, Costa Diadema

The first block of the hull of Costa Cruises’ future flagship, Costa Diadema, was laid this week at Fincantieri’s Marghera, Italy, shipyard forming the central part of the ship. Diadema in Italian means “tiara”and the name was selected for the new ship that will serve as the crown jewel and flagship of the Costa Cruises fleet. During a ceremony, the block — weighing approximately 496 tons, measuring 51.5 feet wide by 95 feet long — was lifted by a crane and laid in the dry dock where the ship will be built. Construction and fitting out will continue until Oct. 30, 2014, the scheduled date of delivery. Costa will invest around 550 million euros in the new flagship. Costa Diadema will be the largest cruise ship flying the Italian flag, at 132,500 gross tons, 1,004 feet long, 122 feet in the beam, carrying 4,947 total guests and 1,253 crewmembers, with 1,854 guest cabins. Pictured at the Costa Diadema’s block-laying ceremony are (l-r) Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri; Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A.; Ing. Attilio Da Pelo, Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard director, and Gianni Onorato, president of Costa Crociere S.p.A.