Long-time Costa Captain Elio Mandrilli has passed away. Services were held on Monday at the San Nicola church in Sestri.

At sea for more than 40 years, Mandrilli was born in Genoa and started as a cadet aboard Adriatica Line. He later joined Costa Crociere and made the rank of captain aboard the Carla Costa in 1993.

Running a warm and friendly ship, he spoke to Cruise Industry News during a cruise aboard the Costa Romantica in 1995.

“When I was young the captain only talked to the first-class passengers, not the rest of the ship. I am glad that has changed. I talk to everybody and as a manager I am involved in everything,” he said in an interview.

On this particular cruise in the Western Mediterranean, he was frequently observed at the gangway when passengers went ashore and came back, and once, when a passenger stumbled, he ran to assist.

He also said he had been instrumental in developing computer simulations for several ports, including Genoa, San Juan, Miami and Tunis.

In 2013, Captain Mandrilli was made an honorary citizen of Pointe-a-Pitre (Citoyen d’Honneur de la Ville Pointe a Pitre), Guadeloupe. He served as captain when Costa first homeported the Marina and the Allegra in Guadeloupe for the winter season and later returned with the Costa Classica.

Captain Mandrilli loved his job and loved the sea.