Gram Car Carriers Refinances Viking Adventure
Norwegian shipowner Gram Car Carriers announced it has refinanced the Viking Adventure with an undisclosed Japanese bank.The new $41 million loan has a duration matching the vessels current charter ending in mid-2028 and a margin of SOFR +1.73%. This compares a margin of SOFR +4.26% under the previous lease financing which was repaid earlier this year, the company said.“We are pleased to welcome one of the premier banks in Japan in our banking group as we optimize our capital structure and cost base to maximize profit and shareholder returns.
Helsinghof to Take the Helm at Viking in June
Viking Life-Saving Equipment A/S appointed Henrik Helsinghof as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective from June 1, 2024.The appointment follows the death of former CEO Henrik Uhd Christensen in January following a short illness. Helsinghof had previously been identified by Christensen and the VIKING Board of Directors as a possible successor.Helsinghof began his career in VIKING in 2006 as student assistant and remained with the company for 14 years, holding various positions, including Managing Director of VIKING Nadiro.
Eidesvik Extends Contract with DEME for Viking Neptun CSV
Eidesvik Offshore, a Norwegian offshore vessel owner, has signed a ship management contract extension with DEME for construction support vessel (CSV) Viking Neptun.The three-year extension also includes a two-year option for further extension, according to Eidesvik Offshore.The company has provided full technical management, crewing and operation of Viking Neptun since December 2022.In November the same year, Eidesvik Offshore completed the sale of Viking Neptun CSV to DEME.“This extension is a testament to the exceptional performance of our dedicated crews.
Cruise Passenger Numbers Rebound at Port of New Orleans
The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) reports its cruise passenger numbers are back to pre-pandemic levels. The port said Monday that it finished calendar year 2023 with nearly 1.2 million cruise passenger movements and renewed commitments to the New Orleans cruise market from both oceangoing and river cruise lines.“The cruise business has rebounded in New Orleans and cruise line partners are confident in our Port NOLA cruise market,” said Port NOLA president and CEO Brandy D. Christian.
Aurora Botnia - RoPax Ferry + Greentech Proving Ground
Built by Rauma Marine Constructions, in Rauma, Finland, and launched in 2021, the 150-meter-long Aurora Botnia boasts a long list of onboard equipment that help it to earn its “green” designation, a label that is confirmed via a Clean Design notation from classification society DNV. The ship is also compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target.Wasaline CEO Peter Ståhlberg describes Aurora Botnia as “a masterpiece of cooperation” and noted that the vessel is over 80% domestic made."I'm really proud of the Aurora Botnia.
Viking Strengthens Marine Evacuation Portfolio with Undertun Acquisition
Danish maritime safety solutions company Viking Life-Saving Equipment has acquired rights to manufacture and supply Undertun marine evacuation systems (MES).The Viking acquisition has been agreed with Sverre Undertun, whose Norway-based company offers solutions which include its well-known Undertun ship gangways.The solution is suitable for the small ferry market due to its easy installation and use.Catering for up to 150 persons, Undertun MES are especially convenient when installation heights and crew numbers are low…
China’s First Domestically Built Cruise Ship Delivered
The first large cruise ship ever to be built in China has been delivered, potentially leading the way for a new market player to rise within the global cruise shipbuilding industry.The 5,246-passenger Adora Magic City, built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s (CSSC) Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) based on Fincantieri' Vista-class design, will commence its maiden voyage from Shanghai in January 2024, operated by Asian cruise line Adora Cruises.The Chinese-built ship will service the domestic market with four-to-five day sailings…
Viking Vela Floated Out
Viking Vela, the first of a new series of cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for the shipowner Viking, has been floated out at the shipyard in Ancona. The delivery is scheduled for late 2024.The vessel will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. She will have a gross tonnage of about 54,300 tons, will be equipped with 499 cabins and will be able to accommodate 998 passengers on board.Viking Vela will spend its inaugural season sailing voyages in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.“Together with Fincantieri…
VIKING Launches Innovative Space-saving Lifeboats
VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, said Wednesday it was launching an innovative range of lifeboats and davits which set new standards for compact and lightweight lifeboat-based evacuation solutions. "By challenging traditional lifeboat design, the 40- and 52-person VIKING Norsafe Totally Enclosed Lifeboats (TELB) respond to a rising tide of industry demand for space- and weight-saving boats for typical crew capacities," VIKING Life-Saving Equipment said."Major shipbuilding clients…
Standard Supply to Sell PSV Trio for $72.2M
Oslo-listed Standard Supply has recently agreed to sell three large platform supply vessels, Standard Viking, Standard Supplier, and Standard Defender, for a gross of $72.2 million.Adjusting for ownership, proceeds to Standard Supply will be $69.5 million gross. The transaction is contingent upon certain conditions to be lifted by the end of November, and completion is expected no later than mid-January 2024. Martin Nes, Chairman of Standard Supply said: “Standard Supply was always intended to be an asset play with an opportunistic approach towards the market.
Viking Expands Southeast Asia River Fleet
Viking has announced the expansion of its river fleet in Southeast Asia with the new Viking Tonle.Designed for the Mekong River, the vessel will join its identical sister ship, the Viking Saigon, which debuted in 2022, and will sail between Kampong Cham, Cambodia, and Mỹ Tho, Vietnam, as part of Viking's 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary.The ship is under construction and is currently scheduled to debut in October 2025. To meet strong demand for Mekong River voyages, Viking…
Viking Supply Ships Takes Delivery of Andreas Viking AHTS
Swedish offshore vessel owner Viking Supply Ships has taken delivery of the Andreas Viking AHTS, previously known as the Far Senator.In March 2023, Viking Supply Ships said it would take two Ocean Yield-owned AHTS vessels, Far Senator and Normand Statesman, on bareboat charters for a period of five years, with purchase options during the charter period, and an obligation to purchase the vessels at the end of the charter period if requested by Ocean Yield AS. The company, that owns and operates a fleet of offshore supply and icebreaking vessels…
Wintershall Dea Extends Viking Princess Vessel Contract
Oil and gas company Wintershall Dea has declared options to extend the contract for Eidesvik Offshore's supply vessel Viking Princess. The contract extension runs from January 2024 in direct continuation of the current contract, extending the firm period to January 2025.“This extension is a quality mark for the operations and services delivered, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation with Wintershall Dea”, says Gitte Gard Talmo, CEO and president of Eidesvik Offshore ASA.According to Eidesvik Offshore…
Viking Supply Ships Secures Contract Offshore Australia
Offshore anchor handling company Viking Supply Ships announced it has signed a contract for Far Senator (to be named Andreas Viking) for operations offshore Australia.With operations performed by Go Offshore, the vessel will be operated under a time-charter with an unspecified international oil company.The contract length for the fixed period is 412 days, with commencement during first quarter of 2024.
VIKING Wins Large Hellenic Coastguard Patrol Boat Order
VIKING Norsafe Life-saving Equipment HELLAS has secured orders from Greece’s Ministry of Shipping & Island Policy to deliver 31 patrol boats and three high-speed boats to the Hellenic Coast Guard. The orders, covered in three separate contracts with the VIKING Life-saving Equipment subsidiary, are part of an EU-backed Hellenic Coast Guard procurement program which was initiated four years ago.Two of the contracts cover 31 boats based on VIKING Norsafe’s proven Munin S1200 hull form, with the design adapted to meet client requirements.
Italy Impounds Migrant Charity's Rescue Vessel
Italian authorities said on Wednesday they had impounded a ship involved in migrant rescue operations in the central Mediterranean Sea, citing safety procedure irregularities.Under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government, installed last year, Italy has taken a tougher stance towards migrant rescue NGOs, accusing them of facilitating the work of people traffickers.The Ocean Viking ship was seized while docked in the port of Civitavecchia, northwest of Rome on the Mediterranean coast."In particular, some of the crew did not possess the necessary licenses to handle the life-saving e
Viking Line Offers Passengers Biogas Deal
Viking Line has started to offer passengers on its Turku-Åland-Stockholm route the option of purchasing renewable biofuel in proportion to the amount of fuel used for their journey.Starting June 21, Viking Line’s passengers on the Turku-Åland-Stockholm route can purchase biogas in proportion to the amount of fuel used for their journey. On a cruise between Turku and Stockholm, the additional price is less than 5 euros. At that price, passengers reduce their carbon footprint by up to 90% compared to a trip where LNG is used.European biogas…
Eidesvik Offshore to Sell Three Laid Up Seismic Vessels
Eidesvik Offshore has entered into agreements to sell its three remaining seismic vessels, Veritas Viking, Vantage, and Viking Vision, to two separate buyers. All the vessels are in lay-up and treated as held for sale in the company accounts. Eidesvik Offshore did not say who the buyers were.The company will, at completion of the sales, expected during this summer, recognize a total gain of approximately NOK 63 million (currently around $5,6 million).Gitte Gard Talmo, President & CEO of Eidesvik commented: "We are pleased to announce the sale of these non-strategic assets with a solid gain. The sale will further improve an already strong balance sheet.”
Mediterranean Boat Carrying 500 Migrants has Disappeared, Rescuers Say
A boat carrying about 500 migrants, including a newborn baby and pregnant women, has disappeared in the central Mediterranean, two charities said on Friday. Alarm Phone, a group that picks up calls from migrant vessels in distress, said it lost contact with the boat on Wednesday morning. At the time, the boat was adrift, with no working engine, in high seas about 320 km (200 miles) north of the Libyan port of Benghazi and more than 400 km away from Malta or Italy's southern island of Sicily.
Fincantieri Delivers Cruise Ship Viking Saturn
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced it has delivered a new ocean cruise ship for shipowner Viking from its shipyard in Ancona.The newly built Viking Saturn will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. Like its sister ships, Viking Saturn is about 47,800 tons, 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers.According to Fincantieri, the “Viking Saturn”, the tenth of this class, has been designed by experienced naval architects and engineers, including an interior design team of Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios and London-based SMC Design…
Solstad Offshore Offloads Far Sabre AHTS
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has sold the anchor-handling tug supply vessel Far Sabre for an undisclosed fee.The 2008-built vessel has been in layup since 2019. Delivery of the vessel to the new owner took place on Tuesday. Solstad did not say who the buyer was."The sale of the vessel will result in a minor positive accounting effect to be reflected in 1Q 2023," Solstad Offshore said.Earlier on Tuesday, Solstad said it would redeliver two anchor handlers to owner Ocean Yield upon the expiration of their current contracts.
Viking Supply Ships to Charter Two Ocean Yield AHTS Vessels. Purchase Options Included
Anchor handling specialist Viking Supply Ships will take two Ocean Yield-owned AHTS vessels, Far Senator and Normand Statesman, on bareboat charters for a period of five years. The vessels have since October 2020 been on a charter with Normand Chartering, a subsidiary of the Norwegian offshore vessel firm Solstad Offshore ASA. Solstad said it would redeliver the vessels to Ocean Yield at the end of their current commitments. Viking Supply Ships said in a separate statement that it would…
Wintershall Dea Charters Eidesvik Offshore's Dual-fuel Supply Vessel
After securing a contract for its Viking Princess supply ship with Wintershall DEA on Thursday, Eidesvik Offshore said Friday it had won a deal for the Viking Queen vessel with the same oil company.The contract for the 2008-built Viking Queen is for 12 months, with options for further extensions. The new contract will start in Q2, 2023.According to the Norwegian vessel owner, the 92.3-meter-long Viking Queen is a dual-fuel platform supply vessel also equipped with a battery hybrid system and a shore power system. “We are very pleased to secure this contract for Viking Queen and appreciate Wintershall Dea’s willingness to commit to solutions that are moreenvironmentally friendly.