Costa Classica goes to Birkenhead

Cammell Laird`s Birkenhead yard has won the hotly contested contract to convert the 52,926g Italian cruise ship Costa Classica. Valued at £51 million ($84.15 million) to the yard, this is said to be the world`s largest cruise ship conversion to date. The cost to owner Costa Crociere is put at £64 million ($105.6 million) including lost revenue.

Built in 1991, Costa Classica will be lengthened by 44.6m to 265.4m loa and a new full length deck will be added, taking accommodation to a maximum of 2,485 passengers and increasing tonnage to 79,000g. Steel fabrication will commence shortly, and the ship will enter the yard in November 2000 for completion by March 2001. Options exist for a similar project on sister ship Costa Romantica.