Ship Year News

There's a natural predictability to much of the dry bulk sector. Coal demand peaks in summer and winter when seasonal cooling or heating is required, and iron ore typically peaks in the latter half of the year as China imports huge quantities to produce steel in advance of the spring construction season.Similarly, Brazil's rainy season and Australia's cyclone season both happen in Q1 and usually help ensure it’s the weakest quarter of the year for dry bulk.Even acts of God are only minimally impacting the dry bulk market’s momentum this year. The global economy has started its recovery from the impacts of COVID-19, we're seeing major financial stimulus…

The Port of Felixstowe welcomed 105 calls last year by container ships of over 18,000 TEU, including all the largest container ships in the world. It is now firmly established as the UK port of call for these giants of the sea. The year of mega-ships started in January with the maiden call of the CSCL Globe which, at 19,100 TEU capacity, set a new world-record as the largest ship then in service. The record was short-lived however, the 19,224 TEU MSC Oscar pushed the bar even higher when it arrived at Felixstowe in March. June saw the maiden call of the first of United Arab Shipping Company’s (UASC) A-18 class vessels, the Barzan. Although advertised as ‘only’ 18,800 TEU, the A-18 ships have a nominal capacity of 19,870 TEU.

Port of Galveston say that Royal Caribbean International is to base their Voyager-class ship year-round from Galveston, from November 2013. The Navigator of the Seas, due for an extensive drydock refit in January 2014, will replace Mariner of the Seas to offer Texas vacationers roundtrip seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries throughout the year. “The repositioning of Navigator of the Seas to the Port of Galveston represents Royal Caribbean’s confidence in the Port of Galveston’s efficient cruise  operations and ability to attract passengers on its Voyager class ships…

Princess Cruises has announced that for the first time it will base a ship in San Francisco year round, beginning in May 2013.The extensively renovated Grand Princess will first offer a series of Alaska cruises during the summer months from the "City by the Bay," followed by a schedule of Hawaiian Islands, Mexico and the California Coast sailings during the fall 2013 to spring 2014 season. Last year the 2,600-passenger Grand Princess underwent the largest drydock in Princess Cruises history…

Celebrity Cruises will devote a second ship to the Caribbean for the 2003 summer season to accommodate a continued demand for its Caribbean product. Century, currently sailing seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades, was originally scheduled to redeploy to Europe next summer, then resume her Caribbean sailings next Fall. Century now will sail the Caribbean year-round, joining sister-ship Galaxy. Celebrity will continue to operate two ships, Millennium and Constellation, next year in Europe. In addition, sister brand, Royal Caribbean International, will sail three ships, Splendour of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas, from European ports.

Extensive work on bulk carrier safety coordinated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) with international participation is now complete, and a final report of the study results has been submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for consideration at their meeting on December 2nd to December 13th 2002. The United Kingdom has been fully committed to addressing bulk carrier safety following the loss of the MV Derbyshire in 1980 with the loss of 44 lives. Bulk carrier safety has a poor record with over 500 ship casualties resulting in the loss of more than 2000 lives in the period from 1978 to the present date.