COSTA MEDITERRANEA

[shipstamps]

The Gibraltar Post web-site gives the following info by this stamp.

The COSTA MEDITERRANEA is a Spirit Class cruise ship operated by Costa Cruises. She was constructed at the Kvaerner Masa Yards (currently Aker Finnyards) in Helsinki, Finland at a cost of over 400 million Euros’. Her design like sister ship COSTA ATLANTICA, was derived from Carnival Cruise Lines Spirit Class ships (CARNIVAL SPIRIT, CARNIVAL PRIDE, CARNIVAL LEGEND and CARNIVAL MIRACLE).
On 16 June 2003 she departed on her maiden voyage from Genoa to Spain and Portugal.

Built as a cruise vessel under yard No 502 by Kvaerner Masa Yard, Helsingfors (Helsinki), Finland for Costa Crociere, Genoa, Italy.
21 August 2000 building contract signed.
18 December 2000 first section placed.
24 September 2002 launched (floated out) under the name COSTA MEDITERRANEA.
Tonnage 85.619 grt. 7.500 dwt., dim 292.50 x 32.2 x 8.00m. (draught) Length bpp. 263.5m.
Powered by sex Wärtsilä 9L46D diesel engines, 35.200 kW, geared to two azimuth electric propulsion driven screws. Speed 22 knots.
Accommodation for 2.680 passengers and 920 crew.
22 May 2003 delivered to owners. Homeport Genoa, Italy.

23 May 2003 sailed from Helsingfors bound for Hamburg.
16 June 2003 made her maiden cruise from Genoa around the Mediterranean.

2008 In service under same name and owner. IMO No 9237345.

She is on Gibraltar 2008 78p sg?

Source: Marine News. http://wwwmiramarshipindex.org.nz http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/costa_mediterranea_2003.htm

[aukepalmhof]

Ukraine and Morocco issued in 2013 a se-tenant stamp for the good relations between the two countries.
The Ukrainian stamps shows the cruise terminal in Odessa with two cruise ships, the largest on the right of the stamp is the COSTA MEDITERRANEA and the smaller cruise-ship which was identified by Mr. Peter Crichton as the MSC MELODY built in 1982 at ATLANTIC.
The other stamp shows the port of Tangier in Morocco with a lot of small ships.
.
2013 COSTA MEDITERRANEA still same name and owners.

Images supplied by Mr. Gennadiy Sitnikov, with thanks.

Ukraine 2013 2.00k sg?, scott?
Morocco 2013 postmark (the ship looks also the COSTA MEDITERRANEA, the cranes are from Tangier harbour.)
Morocco 2013 M. sheet
Ukraine 2013 M. sheet (the cargo ships sofar not identified.)