60th Aniversary of Costa Crociere in Malaga 03/11/2008 In the 60th Anniversary of the shipping line, Malaga consolidates as one of the key ports for Costa Crociere.   The relation between Costa and the Port of Málaga started early last century.   During next year, Costa will bring 156,000 passengers to Málaga, who will spend 8,000,000E during their calls.   Málaga, October 28th.- From January to December of next year, eight of the 14 cruise ships of the Costa Crociere shipping line will make a total of 52 calls in Málaga. Costa will bring 156,000 cruise passengers to the city.   These figures were published last Tuesday during the exchange of commemorative plaques to celebrate the sixty-year-cruising of the company. Enrique Linde, president of the Málaga Port Authority, in honour of this anniversary, presented a commemorative plaque to Costa Crociere, a leading cruise line in Europe and South America.   From left to right: President of Costa Crociere in Spain, Mr. Luis Grau; President of the Port Authority of Málaga, Mr. Enrique Linde, with the captain of the cruise ship Costa Mediterránea.   The company will celebrate its anniversary in some of the ports it frequently visits, with the Port of Málaga the first one chosen. The event took place on board Costa Mediterranea. Some important representatives of the City Council of Málaga, the Regional Government of Andalusia and other local authorities attended the reception.   Later, the audience had lunch in one of the restaurants of the ship. After that, the shipping line explained some of its history and future projects. Finally, the guests could enjoy visiting the cruise ship. Costa Mediterranea, which is 292.50 metres long, has the capacity to host 2,680 passengers and 897 members of the crew.   “From some decades ago, Málaga has been a very important port for us. We can remember that 50 years ago the shipping line made some calls transporting goods, and then passengers”, said Luis Grau, President of Costa Crociere in Spain.   He added that “the excellent relation between Costa Crociere and Málaga” is not recent; historical documents such as old photographs and navigation charts show what the cruise ships were like 50 years ago.   During his short speech, Mr. Luis Grau pointed that Costa arrived at the Port of Málaga in 1924 with a ship loaded with goods. After that, in 1966, the ship named Anna C made the first call with tourists. Currently, 42 years later, eight cruise ships of the fleet visit Málaga.   On one of Anna C’s visits to the Port of Málaga, February 9th 1966, she received a barrel filled with Málaga wine, which was refilled during following calls.   Costa Mediterranea, aboard which the company celebrated its 60th anniversary, was not the only Costa cruise ship in the port on that day: Costa Victoria, which has visited the city nine other times this year, will visit Málaga two more times in November.   Costa Mediterranea   Costa cruise ships visiting the Port of Málaga during 2009 are Costa Serena, Costa Marina, Costa Europa, Costa Romantica, Costa Atlantica, Costa Mediterranea and Costa Luminosa. This last one will be inaugurated next year. Costa Cruceros will connect Málaga city with other destinations in Europe such as the Canary Islands, Morocco, Madeira, Italy, France, England, Portugal, Holland, Cabo Verde, and in the Americas, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.