Splendour Of The Seas
Royal Caribbean Opens Sao Paulo Office
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is ramping up its commitment to growing the South America cruise market with the official opening of a new office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the first Royal Caribbean company-owned office in the region. The event was marked on August 6 by a formal visit by Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, Adam Goldstein, highlighting Brazil as a key region earmarked for both investment and growth. “The cruise market in Brazil is one of the fastest growing in the world, and with increased investment and commitment, we aim to accelerate this trend” said Goldstein. “In late 2009 Royal Caribbean International will have two ships – Vision of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas – dedicated to the Brazilian market which represents a significant uplift in available cruise departures.” The new Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. office, located in Sao Paulo, will support the commercial and operational efforts in Brazil of the company’s three cruise brands - Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. (www.royalcaribbean.com)
Cruise Line RCI Extends Oceans TV Agreement
UK's Oceans TV announce that Royal Caribbean International has extended satellite TV channel agreements for two of the cruise line's ships. The first agreement covers the provision of a wide package of satellite TV channels for Serenade of the Seas whilst it cruises in European and Middle Eastern waters in Winter and Spring 2013. Channels include BBC World News, BBC Entertainment and CNBC Europe for English speaking passengers
SEA LEVEL MARINE Wraps Up Busy Year
Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas Receive Rollback Renovations; Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity Receives Complete Cabin Refit; Sea Level Awarded Splendour of the Seas Viking Crown Lounge Contract from Royal Caribbean Cruises Miami-based SEA LEVEL MARINE, full-service marine outfitting contractor, celebrates completion of the renovation of Britto Art Gallery, Cupcake Cupboard, Nursery
Barents Sea 3D Seismic Survey Contracts for TGS
Norway-based TGS will commence the Europe 2013 acquisition season with two 3D multi-client surveys in the Norwegian Barents Sea. The two surveys, both supported by industry funding, involve the Finnmark Platform 2013 (FP13) covering 3,500 km2 and the Hoop to Fingerdjupet 2013 (HF13) covering 8,600 km2. Both 3D seismic surveys cover areas of complex geology and are designed to address specific customer imaging requirements
Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas Meets Legend of the Seas in Singapore
Royal Caribbean International’s two Asian-based cruise ships Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas both arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Center Singapore in the morning and were berthed side by side for the first time here. Voyager of the Seas, the largest cruise ship based in Asia, was starting on her eight-night cruise to Shanghai while her sister ship Legend of the Seas was leaving for a two-night Malacca weekend cruise as part of her Singapore season. www.royalcaribbean.com
Singapore: Illegal Bunkering Activity
The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a news release stating that four persons are being charged with corrupt practices for conspiring to engage in illegal bunkering activity. A Bunkering Deal Gone Awry The bunkering industry in Singapore is a lucrative business with more than 65,000 bunkering operations taking place here every year. In 2012, Singapore was the world's top bunkering port with bunker sales volume of more than 42 million metric tons (mt)
British Warship Back to Sea After US$32.5-million Refit
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate 'HMS Somerset' returns to sea for the first time in 9 months following an extensive modernization. The Type 23 frigate has a new lease of life as one of the most advanced fighting ships in the fleet due following docking and upgrade in her home port, Devonport Naval Base, in partnership with Babcock Marine. The warship’s fighting capability is now among the most advanced in the world
South China Sea Energy Exploration by Chevron
Chevron Corporation's China subsidiary signs production sharing contracts for exploration blocks in the Pearl River Estuary, South China Sea. Chevron's agreement is with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Under the PSC agreements, Chevron China Energy Company will hold a 100 percent interest in blocks 15/10 and 15/28 in the Pearl River Mouth Basin. During the exploration phase Chevron China Energy Company will be the operator of the two shallow water blocks
China Navy Beefs Up South China Sea Presence
A People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet has entered territorial waters in the South China Sea for patrol and training missions. Comprising the missile destroyer Qingdao and the missile frigates Yantai and Yancheng, the fleet entered the South China Sea after a five-hour passage through the Bashi Channel (between Taiwan and the Philippines' Luzon Island). The three ships, all from the North China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy
Northern Sea Route International Conference
The upcoming conference will concern itself with problems and prospects for the NSR with its huge potential. The Central Research Institute of the [Russian] Navy and the magazine “News of Maritime Petersburg" with the support of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation will organize the international conference 'The Northern Sea Route: State, Problems and Prospects' in St. Petersburg (Concert Complex 'Novoizmaylovsky', Novoizmaylovsky pr., 48) on 11, April 2013.
Kanoo to Reveal Latest Developments at Services Show
Kanoo Shipping – an offshore and marine services provider in the Middle East, operating throughout Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Iraq and Sudan – will be present at the Saudi International Marine Services Show -2013 to demonstrate various services provided by the
GSI Completes Two Major Oil and Gas Contracts
Gulfstream Services Inc. (GSI), provider of equipment to the international oil and gas industry, has successfully completed two six figure decommissioning contracts with oil and gas service companies, Helix Well Ops U.K. and Dof Subsea. The Helix contract was part of the BP North West Hutton
Second Consecutive Decline for Stifel Logistics Confidence Index
The Stifel Logistics Confidence Index continued its downward trend in May as it fell for the second consecutive month. Compiled by Transport Intelligence, the overall index, which combines the current situation with future expectations, was down 0.8 points from April to 50.7 in May and was 1
PSSA Interactive Display Launched at IMO
A new interactive display on Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) has been launched at IMO Headquarters and online at www.pssa.imo.org. A PSSA is an area that needs special protection through action by IMO because of its significance for recognized ecological or socio-economic or scientific
ClassNK Receives Safety at Sea Award
ClassNK received the Safety at Sea Award at the Seatrade Awards 2013 held at Guildhall, City of London on May 10 for its efforts to improve the safety of nickel ore carriage.This marks the first time that ClassNK has received an award at the Seatrade Awards
Upcoming NAMEPA National Maritime Day Seminar
'Safety at Sea' focus of NAMEPA's National Maritime Day seminar at the Washington DC National Press Club. The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) will be offering a seminar “Environmental Intelligence in Maritime: Safety at Sea"
Power Below the Waves: ABB Subsea Transformers
ABB has delivered subsea transformers for fields in the North & Norwegian seas & the Gulf of Mexico for operation at depths of up to 2,000 m. Subsea transformers are an ABB innovation. Deployed in extreme conditions in ultra-deepwater
This Year 'Day of the Seafarer' Focuses on People
This year's theme for Day of the Seafarer (25, June 2013) is 'Faces of the Sea': a natural evolution from last yearʼs theme of ʻIt came by sea and I canʼt live without itʼ. IMO explains that this year, fundamentally, it moves the theme to bringing the campaign back to the unsung
Cochin Builds Vard Designed PSVs
The Sea Tantalus is the first of a series of Vard Group (STX) designed platform supply vessels being built at Cochin Shipyard Ltd. in India. The distinctive hull configuration is being built in countries around the world, and the Indian version is the first of four from Cochin.
Counter Piracy Commander Warns of Continuing Threat
The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, has issued a renewed warning that Somali pirates are still determined to get out to sea and, if presented with an easy target, will attack. “I am very concerned that seafarers and nations will lower their guard and
Vestdavit Secures Besiktas Seismic Chase Boat Davit Orders
Norway-based boat handling system and specialized davit supplier Vestdavit was contracted to supply work boat and man overboard davits for four specially designed chase vessels which will support Norwegian seismic major PGS’ fleet of seismic ships.
CMA CGM Launches Three New Joint Services, Restructures Routes
In view of continuous challenging trading conditions effective from July 2013 CMA CGM, Maersk Line, Hamburg Süd, CSAV, China Shipping Container Lines and Hanjin will restructure their services between the Far East and South America East Coast by launching three new joint services.
NGO's Condemn IMO Environmental Implementation Delays
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) today decided to postpone the entry into force of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions limits for ship engines from 2016 to 2021. Environmental NGOs Transport & Environment (T&E) and Seas at Risk
MTN and Norwegian Cruise Line Announce Social Media Record
MTN and Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian) announce that a new record for social media usage at sea was set during Norwegian Breakaway’s New York inaugural events. MTN delivered the communications services for its partner, Norwegian, enabling this social media breakthrough that helped
"Most Powerful" Rescue Vessel Commissioned
Aberdeen-based standby vessel operator Atlantic Offshore Rescue said it has commissioned what will be the U.K.’s most powerful emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV). The Ocean Troll – which recently completed a long term charter with Statoil – has undergone a £2