Costa Mediterranea Awarded RINA Green Star

The Costa Mediterranea, which was delivered to Costa Crociere by Kvaerner Masa-Yards yesteday, has become the latest state-of-the-art cruise ship to be awarded the Green Star logo by Italian classification society RINA. The 85,700 gt newbuilding was awarded the Green Star notation, a dedicated environmental standard for shipping.

The 2,114-passenger vessel, which is built to RINA class, is a sistership to the Costa Atlantica (delivered in 2000), which was the first ship ever awarded the RINA Green Star.

Other sisterships are the Carnival Spirit (delivered 2001), Carnival Pride (2001), and Carnival Legend (2002). All meet RINA's high voluntary standards of construction and operation to maximize environmental preservation. Another vessel in the series, the Carnival Miracle, is due to follow next year.

The Green Star is a dedicated and widely acknowledged environmental standard for international shipping and has been awarded to the Costa Mediterranea as evidence that the ship meets the requirements of two voluntary RINA class notations - CLEAN SEA and CLEAN AIR.