Columbia Queen News

French America Line, the newest U.S. cruise line that begins sailing five- to 10-day cruise itineraries aboard its intimate 75-stateroom flagship Louisiane in August, has engaged Inland Marine Service to handle all of its marine operations. Formerly the Columbia Queen, the Louisiane is undergoing a multimillion dollar refurbishment to reflect a French-inspired ambience to embrace the rich history of the areas she sails that were once known as French America. The ship will sail itineraries along the Mississippi…

American Classic Voyages Inc., the largest U.S.-flag cruise company, announced on October 19 that it has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code in Wilmington, Del. The company has ceased operations for its Hawaii vessels, the ms Patriot and the ss Independence, following the completion of their last cruises. cease operation at the completion of each vessel's cruise following the announcement. The Delta Queen steamboat, the company's National Historic Landmark flagship, will continue to operate its scheduled future voyages. In addition, AMCV said it intends to work with Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S.

The recent confluence of three events, all strangely relating to the number 11, is presenting the U.S. shipbuilding industry with challenges greater than seen in many decades. American Classic Voyages (AMCV), owned by Chicago billionaire Sam Zell, is the nation's largest provider of Inland River and Hawaiian Island overnight cruises. In mid October, the company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and that action has led the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to cancel its Title XI loan guarantee on the $1 billion construction program. Called Project America, the program would have built two 1,900-passenger cruise vessels for the Hawaiian Islands tourist market. With the financing guarantee cancelled, the shipyard has permanently stopped working on the two cruise vessels.

An effective purchasing strategy is at the core of successful purchasing departments. Strategies that offer total value to an organization should be the goal of all purchasing organizations. Purchasing professionals around the world are always in search of new strategies that creatively reduce costs and add previously unrealized value to an organization. Since motivating multi-company groups is difficult, the purchasing department must offer a clear strategy that offers value to all involved. Hence, Purchasing Programs, procuring products plus services, is a strategy that can be employed successfully to bring value to all involved. The theory of Purchasing Programs is to leverage vendors to offer products and services — whereas previously — vendors were only offering products.

In the past, companies have expanded their product lines via strategic acquisition of complimentary companies. More recently companies have expanded their product offerings by creating strategic alliances with other companies to surround clients with recognizable brands. The wave of the future is to expand through customer requested and customer led programs. Cruise ship operators have long known that the only way to guarantee repeat business is by offering the guest a fair price and by exceeding all of the guests expectations. To meet these ends, cruise ship operators are requiring more specialized services in support of the expanded needs of guests. This growing trend of vendors that focus on customer needs is already effecting the field of vessel procurement.

Shipyards around the world are facing increasingly stringent environmental rules and regulations, adding additional expense to a business sector with an already reputed thin bottom line. Nonetheless, to stay in business shipyards must continuously enhance their capabilities and compliance, in order to successfully woo and complete lucrative jobs. U.S. shipyards have aggressively been augmenting traditional repair expertise with the tools and systems needed to prosper in 2000 and far beyond. The ensuing editorial updates significant activities and enhancements at U.S. ship repair yards. Detyens Shipyards based in North Charleston, S.C., is continuing its upbeat course of developing trusted relationships with customers along the U.S. East Coast — specifically with Hvide Marine, Inc.

Unitor has taken the next step in giving customers the power to manage their fleets. Customer empowerment in the area of information technology is the next generation of service supported product offerings. Unitor's new information technology system named PartnerSHIP offers subscribers access to all critical information regarding their fleet as well as data about Unitor's worldwide network. This Web-based program offers secure and direct customer access into Unitor's mainframe computer. This computer network acts as a data repository for all of the customer's information. In conjunction with that information it also accesses Unitor's own central database regarding its products, services and port information through a secure web server.

Composites have been utilized in various applications in the shipbuilding industry in order to meet countless requirements of shipyards and ship owners. Composites have found their way into areas such as hull design for smaller vessels to modular bathroom units on larger vessels. Research and development with composites has also created Trevira fabric. Composites continue to evolve along with the shipbuilding industry, and one should expect to see more wide spread use of this material in years to come. In order to better understand composites one must review the creation of this modern material, and then one can examine the uses of this product. The general definition for composite material is the combination of two or more materials in order to create a completely new material.

American West Steamboat Company is adding a third vessel, the Columbia Queen, to its fleet of luxury overnight small cruise ships that will operate on the Columbia, Willamette and Snake Rivers. In a recent auction held by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), American West Steamboat Company won the bid for the Columbia Queen, formerly owned by American Classic Voyages’ Delta Queen Steamboat Company. MARAD took possession of the Columbia Queen after American Classic Voyages filed bankruptcy in 2002. Pending the close of the sale, American West Steamboat Company will take possession of the Columbia Queen around mid-July at which time she will undergo some refurbishment before her first cruise on the Columbia River in the spring of 2003.

Ambassadors International, Inc. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ambassadors Cruise Group, has acquired the 150-passenger river cruise ship, Columbia Queen. David Giersdorf, President of Ambassadors Cruise Group, said, "We are pleased to add a seventh U.S.-flagged cruise vessel to our Majestic America Line fleet. The Columbia Queen is a spectacular, deluxe cruise ship that will operate extraordinary itineraries on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. We look forward to introducing her into operations in the summer of 2007."

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a Notice stating that it has been notified that CQ River Cruises LLC, doing business as American Rivers Cruise Line, has cancelled all cruises scheduled to commence prior to June 2, 2006. The company operates the river cruise vessel Columbia Queen. The escrow agent has been directed to handle ticket refunds.

American Classic Voyages (AMCV), granted a $6.4 million contract for construction completion and outfitting on Columbia Queen to Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island, Wash. The 161-passenger U.S.-flag riverboat, which will be readied by Nichols for service on the Columbia River system, will be operated under The Delta Queen Steamboat brand. Offering Pacific Northwest cruises beginning in April 2000, Columbia Queen will travel the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers during its eight-night vacation package, which features an overnight stay in Portland, as well as a seven-night cruise with various excursions. Scott Young, AMCV executive vice president and president of The Delta Queen Steamboat Co.…

First Wave/Newpark Shipbuilding, in Galveston, Texas, has had a busy spring. First, the company was awarded a contract by Diamond Offshore Drilling to install a crane and perform annual survey work on Ocean Lexington. That contract was completed in March. Next, the company won a contract from Smit Americas, Inc. for drydocking of Ocean Hercules. The vessel was drydocked on the shipyard's 7,500-ton drydock for general maintenance and conversion from a seismic vessel to a telecommunication cable laying vessel. Finally, First Wave drydocked Pride Louisiana for Pride Offshore. The rig was docked in the Galveston Ship Channel, utilizing a heavy lift barge for an annual survey. The rig will depart upon completion of the survey.