Shipping World and Shipbuilder December 2003, January 2004

Another prestige conversion for LWB

Germany’s leading repair and conversion shipyard, Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven (LWB) has been commissioned by Italian cruise ship operator Costa Crociere to convert the 76,000gt cruise ship Costa Victoria inside just an month early in the new year.

LWB was involved in building the 252m long vessel for the Carnival Group subsidiary in 1996. The ship will arrive in Bremerhaven on 11 January after a five day sail from Savona during which LWB workers will start the extensive work. She will be completed about 30 days later and her next trip will start von 14 February.

Costa chairman und CEO Pier Luigi Foschi was quoted as saying the conversion was the first of its kind to actually begin while a ship was at sea. He added that the project was part of a company renewal programme which also includes the introduction of two 105,000gt newbuildings and will bring the size of the fleet to 500,000gt.

The five star, 23 knot Costa Victoria, which carries 1,928 passengers and a crew of 800, will get not only her regular two-year drydocking and general overhaul but also an upgrade of her passenger facilities.

Panorama verandahs for 242 outside cabins will be installed on decks 9 and 10 and the ship will also get four additional mini-suites on deck 11. Cabins will also be re-decorated, a buffet terrace at the stern of deck 11 increased to 60sq m and two 140m long panorama promenades will be added on both sides of the same deck.

“We are delighted to get this ship back in Bremerhaven and proud that Costa has shown such faith in us,” said LWB managing director Werner Lüken of the vessel which made history in 1996 as the biggest cruise ship built in Germany when she was completed at Bremer Vulkan, SSW und LWB.

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