Safe Cruising Down Under with Australian Reef Pilots
According to the Australian Reef Pilots (ARP), Australia is now the fourth biggest cruise market in the world. Part of the boom in cruising has to do with more specialty cruise ships coming to the region. The smaller size cruise ship segment seems purpose-designed to transit the remote waters of the Kimberley coast. However, larger-vessel cruise companies are now expressing interest in touring this remote and rugged north-west region as well as the Great Barrier Reef. In fact, the number of cruise ships using ARP’s services has increased by more than 89 percent since 2010.
Monadelphous Bags Shell FLNG Contract
The engineering group Monadelphous has won a $200 million Shell Australia contract on its Prelude floating LNG project off the Kimberley coast. The contract is for major, long-term maintenance and modifications services for the Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project in Browse Basin, 475km northeast of Broome in Western Australia. Monadelphous will provide maintenance, brownfield modifications and turnaround services to the LNG process plant, support utilities, hull and non-process infrastructure including accommodation and control rooms. The contract also includes the delivery of fabrication services from Darwin in support of offshore operations. The contract is for an initial seven years with a further two, 2 year extension options.
Silver Cloud to Join Polar Exploration Fleet
Silver Cloud is to move Silversea Cruises’ luxury expedition fleet in November 2017. Destined mostly for polar waters, the elite 296-guest ship that launched the ultra-luxury cruise line will be converted into an ice-class ship during an extensive refurbishment scheduled to start in August 2017, Silversea Cruises said. As an expedition ship, the all-suite Silver Cloud will accommodate 260 guests and also sail on itineraries to non-polar regions. When sailing Arctic and Antarctic itineraries, the guest complement will be restricted to 200. Silversea is a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), and adheres to each organisation's guidelines to ensure sustainable tourism.
Silver Discoverer Embarks on Inaugural Voyage
Silver Discoverer, Silversea's latest addition to its award-winning expedition fleet, welcomes her first guests today, exactly 20 years to the day since the company launched its first ultra-luxury cruise ship. Setting sail at 4:30 p.m. on her inaugural voyage from the port city of Broome, in northern Western Australia, the 120-guest, all-suite expedition ship will spend 10 days exploring the Kimberley Coast's jaw-dropping landscapes and ancient human history. A vast, rugged region…
Marine Fauna Research Project: Pluton Enlists BMT
Marine and coastal environment specialists, BMT Oceanica (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has commenced its latest project with Pluton Resources Ltd (Pluton) to increase knowledge of marine fauna around the Irvine and Cockatoo Islands off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia. The collection of marine fauna data will assist Pluton to meet their environmental approvals requirements for any expansion plans of mining operations on Cockatoo Island and the possible infrastructure development of iron ore mining on Irvine Island.
Shell Partner With Challenger for Prelude FLNG Training
Shell Australia and Challenger Institute of Technology, in Western Australia, have committed to a multi-year partnership to develop training programs for the technicians who will operate and maintain the energy giant’s revolutionary Prelude Floating LNG facility. Shell and Challenger will jointly develop the training programs, which will be rolled out from 2014 as Shell completes the construction and commissioning of the Prelude FLNG facility, to be stationed in the East Browse Basin off WA’s Kimberley coast.
Image Marine To Build 'True North'
Image Marine has announced a contract for a live-aboard adventure vessel for North Star Cruises.The repeat contract demonstrates the confidence the client has in Image Marine’s expertise in this specialist field. North Star Cruises took delivery of its first live-aboard, the Image Marine-built ‘True North’, in January 1999. With capacity for 28 passengers in 14 cabins, the 34.5 metre vessel has proved hugely successful cruising the remote Kimberley region of North Western Australia and led to North Star Cruises’ reputation as one of the most renowned tourist operations in Australia. North Star Cruises Director, Mr Craig Howson said Image Marine was an obvious choice to build the vessel.
