China Launches South China Sea Cruise Ship Tour
A new Chinese cruise ship has embarked on its maiden voyage to the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday, the latest effort by Beijing to bolster its claims in the strategic waterway. The Changle Princess sailed from Sanya on the southern Chinese island province of Hainan on Thursday afternoon with 308 passengers on a four-day voyage, Xinhua said. The new ship can carry 499 people and has 82 guest rooms with dining, entertainment, shopping, medical and postal services on board, it added. Tourists will be able to visit the three islands in the Crescent group of the Paracels, Xinhua said.
China to Add 8 Cruises to Push Tourism in South China Sea
Three State-owned enterprises from the shipping, tourism and construction sectors will cooperate to equip up to eight cruise liners and offer diversified sightseeing services to tap the travel market in the South China Sea, says China Daily. Sanya International Cruise Development Co Ltd, a joint venture by COSCO Shipping, China National Travel Service (HK) Group Corp and China Communications Construction Co Ltd, will buy between five and eight ships. In addition to buying between five and eight ships, the plan calls for the construction of new docks in the resort city of Sanya. Liu Junli, chairman of Sanya International, said the ships may also "cruise around the South China Sea at the appropriate time," according to China Daily.
Mideast Firm to Operate Cargo Terminal at Port Canaveral
A Middle Eastern-owned company landed its first North American port operations contract on Monday, a 35-year agreement with Port Canaveral on Florida's east coast. Under terms of the lease, Gulftainer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Arab Emirates-based Crescent Enterprises, will invest up to $100 million in equipment and employees to operate a container and cargo terminal under construction at Port Canaveral, just south of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center. "Our intent is to reach up into that southeast manufacturing belt and into the traditional heartland markets for distribution and logistics," Port Canaveral Chief Executive John Walsh said at a signing ceremony.
Crescent Focuses on Tankers and Ferries
U.K. shipping and transport group Crescent PLC has focused its operations on short sea tanker and freight ferry operations. "Following our strategic plan to move out of owning tonnage in the short sea dry bulk sector, we are happy to have completed the sale of nine vessels over the last year," says Kevin Hobbs, Crescent group operations director. "That has cleared the way for us to focus on the two sectors where we can add value. That is our high-intensity coastal tanker fleet and our freight ferry operations." "We are now in a strong position to expand, and having moved out of what we consider a sector with less promise, we are now actively researching opportunities in coastal tanker and ferry trades," says Hobbs.
Crescent takes delivery of new design ships
U.K. shipping and transport group Crescent PLC has added two 2,670 dwt bulk carriers to the fleet of ships operated by Crescent Shipping, the group's dry cargo shipping division. "The Crescent Seine and the Crescent Rhine are of a brand new design and are exceptionally flexible ships. Both have low air draft designs, allowing them to trade on combined river-sea routes. Fully loaded with 134,800 cu ft of grain, for instance, they will still only have a draft of 4.05 m and an air draft of 5.2 m. Moreover, both are fully fitted to carry 84 teu boxes," says Jim Stewart, managing director of Crescent Shipping. The Crescent group of companies comprises four distinct divisions operating throughout Europe.
Seatruck supports Mersey shiprepair
Heysham-based Seatruck Ferries has drydocked its freight ferry MV Moondance with newly formed North Western Ship Repairers, using Birkenhead's Bidston dock. The dock is not far from the Camell Lairds facility, and North Western is led by John Syvret (ex-MD of Camell Lairds. Seatruck is the first company to use North West for a full drydocking. Kevin Hobbs MD of Seatruck, says, "We are delighted that North Western has stepped in to offer the quality service that we require. Merseyside has once again proved itself as a center of excellence for ship repair and conversion. Seatruck welcomes the new facility that is well placed to provide for its needs on their Irish Sea route.
