Island Cruises News

ISS Perennial Gold Sponsor, Viking Recruitment, Sets “Green Standard” in the U.K. by Designing and Building “Viking House,” a Passivhaus Certified Building, for its Expanding Workforce. The International Superyacht Society (ISS) is pleased to acknowledge the groundbreaking “green” efforts of perennial Gold Supporter, Viking Recruitment. Viking’s steadfast commitment to the superyacht industry is apparent in their continuing support of ISS’s efforts on behalf of crew worldwide.

As technologically advanced as communications have become, the bottom line, particularly for business applications, remains basically the same: the need for clear, reliable and cost-effective means to communicate. Trends in the transmission of data, voice and e-mail from ship-to-shore are much like that of land-based operations. The need for more speed and increased reliability are never ending, and the companies that excel are the ones that not only continually innovate, but those that consistently stay on the front of the curve to deliver real-world technologies that deliver benefits in the unique maritime operational environment. In parallel, price pressures are ubiquitous, as shipowners are keen to exploit every outlet to cut costs and generate revenue.

Since 1999, when American Classic Voyages (AMCV) first announced its intention to construct two U.S.-flagged cruise ships that would be staffed by American officers and crew, the U.S. shipbuilding industry received a boost back into an area that it had not participated for almost 30 years — the cruise shipping market. Prior to the construction of the two vessels by Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding, AMCV wanted to start making money right away — it purchased the 17-year-old ms Nieuw Amsterdam for $114.5 million from Holland America. AMCV then received an official notice from Congress that provided exemption from the Jones Act, thus allowing the U.S. Coast Guard to re-flag the foreign registered vessel.

Hebridean Island Cruises has pulled out of a $7 million conversion contract with Malta Drydocks and awarded it to a British yard instead, the Malta company said on Tuesday. Scotland-based Hebridean had already issued a letter of intent in favour of Malta Drydocks for the conversion of a modern ship into an old style classic cruise liner, the Malta firm said. Malta Drydocks did not reveal the name of the U.K. yard or the name of the cruise liner. The Maltese yard recently won a $6 million contract to convert the tanker Northia, owned by Brovig RDS of the UK, into a floating production storage and off loading unit and another $6 million contract for maintenance work on the U.S. sixth fleet flagship La Salle. – (Reuters)

Celebrity Cruises appointed senior marketer Steven Hancock to lead intensified marketing efforts for the premium brand. its customer base. Aug. 15. job. groups, with the sole focus of accelerating growth. praised by Forbes, Money, and Worth magazines. experience, and managing sales and acquisition. an excellent fit. expertise join Celebrity," he said. skills. organization. two corporate start-up ventures, Island Cruises and RCL (UK). will report directly to Williams in his new role. efforts," Williams said. meaningful brand in the marketplace.

Brodie’s company, which has a transportation concession for the Channel Islands National Park, currently operates four single-hull 49-passenger boats. The new 149-passenger 65- x 24-ft. Cummins-powered catamaran Islander, delivered in mid March, will replace two of the smaller vessels. The new vessel features a range of environmentally friendly features such as high boxes around the fuel filler fittings to catch overspill. It also has non-toxic high polish bottom paint. Aluminum boat builder All American Marine, of Bellingham, Wash., has a partnership with Auckland, New Zealand’s naval architect Nic de Waal for the exclusive building rights to his unique Teknicraft catamaran designs on the U.S. west coast.

U.K. based software house Marine Software Ltd was commissioned by Hebridean Island Cruises to set up their Marine Planned Maintenance system for the M.V Hebridean Spirit from existing AMOS D data and was delivered as a complete working system. their various container and Ro-Ro managed Delmas vessels Patricia Delmas, Roland Delmas, Suzanne Delmas, Rokia Delmas, Catherine Delmas, Roxane Delmas, Veronique Delmas, Kamina Delmas and Kariba Delmas. This now takes the number of vessels operating Marine Purchasing to 13 and also compliments Marine Planned Maintenance and Marine Storekeeper already installed on these vessels. Flanders, Freeway and Ideway operating on the Felixstowe/Europort route. vessels.

Michael Carthew, President, Chevron Texaco Shipping and Dean Taylor, President and CEO, Tidewater Marine were elected to the ABS Board of Directors, by the ABS Council, following yesterday's Annual Members Meeting of the classification society in New York. General Dynamics announced the appointment of John F. "Dugan" Shipway, 60, as president of Bath Iron Works, reporting to Michael W. Toner, executive vice president of General Dynamics Marine Systems group. Shipway succeeds Allan C. Cameron, 57, who has announced his retirement. Cameron had been president of Bath Iron Works since 1996. Edwin W. Stephan, a founder and former longtime president and vice chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., will retire from the Board of Directors following the company's May 20 annual meeting in Miami.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced the names for its first two Project America ships, which will begin sailing Hawaii inter-island cruising next year. Project America 1 will be named "Pride of America", reflecting the "Best of America" theme on board. The line's second Project America ship, currently sailing as Norwegian Sky, will be reflagged into the U.S. registry, and will be renamed, "Pride of Aloha" reflecting the strong Hawaii theme to be incorporated during a complete refurbishment in September 2004. The ships will sail under the company's new U.S. Flag brand - NCL America sm- with 100 percent U.S. officers and crew. Pride of America will be the first new ocean-going passenger ship in nearly 50 years to sail under the American flag.