LOUISIANA CASINO CRUISES

Litton, SeaAmerica Sign Agreement On Cruise Ship Program

Litton Ship Systems' Ingalls Shipbuilding division, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with SeaAmerica Cruise Lines, Inc. to develop a ship design leading to contract negotiations for the construction of two 42,000-ton, 1,000 passenger cruise ships. The program will include options for two additional ships. Construction of the cruise ships will utilize both of Litton Ship Systems' production facilities - Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula and Litton Avondale Industries in metro New Orleans, Louisiana, and maximize the resources and experience of both shipyards to achieve operating synergies. "SeaAmerica anticipates receiving MARAD Title XI financing for our new program,'' said David W. Turner, SeaAmerica chairman and chief executive officer. "These U.S.-built, U.S.-crewed ships will be operated port-to-port within the United States, targeted at the convention and business market, in addition to leisure travelers.'' "This new opportunity clearly validates Litton's assessment of the growth potential of the U.S. cruise ship market,'' said Jerry St. Pè, Litton executive vice president and chief operating officer of Litton Ship Systems. "This program presents an opportunity to grow this segment of our company's business beyond the ships already under contract.'' SeaAmerica Cruise Lines, Inc. has been organized to own and operate a U.S. flagged cruise line - primarily sailing U.S. port to U.S

"Cruise to Nowhere" from Myrtle Beach

Federal District Judge David Norton issued a declaratory judgment, giving Dewayne Williams, who runs LA Cruise, Inc. of Mayport, Fla., permission to operate a "cruise to nowhere" vessel out of South Carolina. Williams has expressed interest in operating a casino boat out of Murrells Inlet. Casino gambling is banned in South Carolina, but federal law permits "cruise to nowhere" gaming ships to operate in the absence of a state law specifically prohibiting them

Casino Gaming in Hawaii?

House Bill (H.B.) 1600, sponsored by Rep. Calvin Say (D), would allow casino gaming in Honolulu County if a majority of county voters approved. The measure would restrict shipboard gaming to three ships, and allow such gaming only until December 31, 2005. The bill carries no specific termination date for land-based gaming. The legislation would be repealed on December 31, 2005, unless voters approve casino gaming by that date.

World's Biggest Cruise Liner Set To Sail

The world's biggest cruise liner, the 311-m (1,035-foot) Voyager of the Seas, will set sail this week from Finland to the United States. The $500 million vessel is the first of three sister ships ordered by cruise operator Royal Caribbean from Masa-Yards in the western Finland city of Turku. The ship will leave Turku on Saturday for a three-week passage across the Atlantic to Miami, from where it will sail on its maiden commercial cruise on November 21.

RCL Majesty Undergoes Renovation

Royal Caribbean International's Majesty of the Seas returns home to South Florida after undergoing an extensive bow-to-stern renovation that includes several new dining and entertainment options. The newly transformed ship resumes year-round three- and four-night cruises from Miami. Coming out a 28-day makeover, Majesty's onboard enhancements include a complete overhaul of the guest suites and staterooms, casual dining areas, the main dining rooms,

Gambling Boat Sails to New Waters

Leisure Lady casino ship, after a protracted fight with Dania Beach officials for permission to operate, left the city earlier this month. The gaming operation had fought Dania Beach for more than three months over an occupational license. The city said the ship needed to clear several hurdles before it would be allowed to sail, including having "adequate" parking space. City officials also raised concerns about increased traffic in the area.

Empress Casino Denies Workers' Right to Organize

Empress Casino, which operates two gaming boats on the Des Plaines River, near Joliet, Ill., has refused to allow its workers to join a union, despite a written statement from the company supporting its employees' right to joina union and an overwhelming majority vote by Empress marine officers in favor of organizing, says a national union. Marine officers employed aboard casino boats Empress I and Empress II, voted to join American Maritime Officers (AMO)

Jamestown Metal Marine Delivers Casino Vessel

Jamestown Metal Marine Sales, Inc. has successfully delivered the completed Blue Chip 2 casino vessel to Blue Chip Casino, at Blue Chip’s Michigan City, Ind., facility. The new vessel, which replaces the former vessel, is approximately 400 feet in length with a beam of 200 feet and provides about 65,000 square feet of gaming area on a single deck. In addition to the gaming area there is another 82,000 square feet of

Boomtown Barge Headed for Repairs

According to reports, Tugboats began towing Boomtown Casino's gambling barge to a dry dock in Pascagoula. The repairs at Signal International should take about three weeks, company officials said. Penn National Gaming, which owns Boomtown and Casino Magic Bay St. Louis, has committed to rebuild its Coast properties. Company executives are expected to release more information this week when they issue a quarterly earnings report and host a conference call.

Signal to Repair Boomtown Barge

Signal International, a company known for its work in repairing and renovating offshore drilling rigs, will be repair the hull of the Boomtown Casino barge. The barge, heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina, was moved to Signal last week for hull repairs, according to information from Penn National Gaming, which owns the casino. Company officials said they expect to have the barge's repairs completed and the casino back in operation by the end of this year.