Mykonos News

John F. Kennedy’s famous locution, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but you can do for your country” remains the rallying call for civic action and public leadership. The message remains foundational to the success of the United States, particularly as we head into an election year that once again appears to be filled with divisiveness and vitriol. That said, before we flip the calendar, it is important to set JFK’s message aside for a moment and reflect upon what our political leadership in Washington…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced on Tuesday that nine ships have been enrolled in the Tanker Security Program (TSP), a newly created public-private partnership program that makes U.S.-flag commercial product tankers available to support U.S. armed forces and national economic security.“Today we are announcing the first ships to join the Tanker Security Program, which will help strengthen both our supply chains and our national security…

Florida-based Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) has announced that the Military Sealift Command has awarded the Overseas Mykonos a time charter contract to provide ongoing fuel transportation services.The Overseas Mykonos will be delivered to the Military Sealift Command at Pearl Harbor in August. The time charter awarded is for a one-year base period with the option to extend the contract out to a maximum period of five and a half years.The vessel, built in 2010, is a medium range product tanker with 12 cargo tanks and a cargo capacity of 333,000 barrels. The ship has the ability to perform consolidated cargo replenishment at sea operations, providing flexibility and options for refueling the U.S. military fleet while underway.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has approved the first vessels for participation in its Tanker Security Program (TSP), a newly created public-private partnership program that makes U.S.-flag commercial product tankers available to support U.S. armed forces.Modeled from MARAD's Maritime Security Program (MSP), the TSP assures the Department of Defense has access to U.S.-registered product tankers that may be used to supply the armed forces with fuel during times of armed conflict or national emergency.

Cruise shipping company Norwegian Cruise Line on Sunday officially marked return to business, with its Norwegian Jade ship the first of its 17-ship fleet to welcome guests after 500 days. It was also another first for the Norwegian Jade, as it became Norwegian Cruise Line's first vessel to homeport in Athens (Piraeus)."Until November 2021, guests sailing aboard Norwegian Jade's immersive Greek Isles itinerary will wake up in a new destination every day, able to spend eight-to-nine hours exploring some of Greece's most picturesque islands including luxurious Crete…

The Greek island of Corfu welcomed its first cruise ship of the new season on Tuesday, hoping much awaited tourists will help salvage losses incurred during 2020 due to the coronavirus.Corfu port authorities said some 600 tourists from countries including Italy, France and Germany were on board the Costa Luminosa, operated by Italy's Costa Cruises, and all safety measures were being adhered to in the port.Some of the passengers expressed their delight at being able to travel again."It's freedom, enjoying life, you really feel much better. You're not in prison anymore, you're free and that really does you good," said French tourist Robert Maran from Lyon.Greece opened its doors on Saturday to tourists from the EU and other key markets such as the United States…

The biennial Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will be held from May 28-29, 2019, at the Domotel Kastri Conference Center, in Athens’ northern suburbs. Here there will be more than 30 senior cruise executives responsible for ports and destinations from the world’s biggest cruise lines, including MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Holland America Group, Disney Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and Celestyal Cruises among others.Elisabetta De Nardo, VP Port Development…

ABS announced it has awarded the world’s first Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) – Ready Notation to Ocean Rig for the ABS-classed Corcovado and Mykonos deep water drillships.The ABS MPD-Ready notation demonstrates drilling units have the necessary provisions in place to integrate equipment needed for MPD operations.“Offshore operations in deeper water continue to lead back to a need for reliable and cost-effective technologies” said ABS Executive Vice President – Global Offshore, Kenneth Richardson. “The ABS MPD-Ready notation provides an increased level of confidence that the system meets certain industry standards related to integration of MPD equipment to aid in drilling difficult wells.

A Greek ferry ran aground on the Aegean island of Kassos overnight, the AP is reporting.      None of the 227 passengers and 55 crew were injured and a tug boat was sent from the Cycladic island of Mykonos to conduct the rescue operation, the Greek coastguard said.      The Vitsenzos Kornaros was traveling from Piraeus to Rhodes, a route with seven stops. It became grounded as it approached the dock at the island of Kassos. Kassos is part of the Dodecanese island complex northeast of Crete, the AP said.      TradeWinds reported that winds reached seven to eight on the Beaufort scale and dragged the ship to the port’s breakwater, where it got trapped.     Enikos.gr has what it says is a video of the ferry battling the winds.

A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter crew medevaced a mariner from a 623-foot bulk carrier located approximately 75 miles southeast of Cold Bay, Alaska, Sunday. Coast Guard 17th District Command Center watchstanders received a call from the crew of ALLSEAS MARINE S.A.’s bulk carrier Mykonos Seas requesting medical assistance for an injured crewmember. The duty flight surgeon recommended the medevac, and the USCG Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk crew was launched out of Cold Bay to conduct the rescue. The helicopter crew hoisted the mariner and transferred him to commercial medical services in Cold Bay for further transport to Anchorage and additional medical care. "This case illustrates the importance of forward deploying our hoist capable helicopters in Alaska," said Lt. Cmdr.

DryShips Inc. an international provider of marine transportation services for drybulk and petroleum cargoes, and through its majority owned subsidiary, Ocean Rig UDW Inc., or Ocean Rig, of offshore deepwater drilling services, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.  For the third quarter of 2014, the Company reported net income of $16.7 million, or $0.04 basic and diluted earnings per share. - Non-cash write offs and breakage costs associated with the full refinancing of Ocean Rig's $1.35 billion Senior Secured Credit Facility, totaling $22.0 million or $0.05 per share. Excluding the above items, the Company would have reported net income of $29.8 million, or $0.07 per share.

Cyprus-based Ocean Rig UDW Inc said on Monday that it signed a $1.1 billion three-year contract with Brazil's state-run oil company, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, to extend a lease on two ultra-deepwater drilling ships. Petrobras, as the Brazilian oil company is known, will get the ships, the Ocean Rig Corcovado and Ocean Rig Mykonos, for 1,095 days, Ocean Rig said in a statement. The period and price translate into an average rate for each of the vessels of $502,283 per day. The Corcovado was expected to earn an average day rate of $464,800 and Mykonos $459,700 in the second half of 2014, according to Ocean Rig's second-quarter financial statements. Ultra-deep water is considered water deeper than 1,500 meters (4,921 feet).

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) the world’s leading maritime services provider, has launched an innovative series of travel apps for the cruise industry in Greece, covering the major ports and islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Kefalonia, Corfu and Syros. Further apps will also follow to cover the entire region. Originated by ISS Greece, one of the leading cruise specialists, the free new travel apps will provide a complete digital guide through the islands and ports of Greece, from attractions and activities, dining, and shopping to transport information and a currency convertor, all with images and contact information. With a click of button, immediate local medical information can also be found, if users need to find a doctor or hospital shoreside.

Ocean Rig UDW Inc. provider of offshore deepwater drilling services announce that Pankaj Khanna, Chief Marketing Officer, has left the company. Mr. Khanna departed on 2, October 2012 to pursue other interests and his duties will be absorbed by the existing management team. Ocean Rig, headquartered in Cyprus, owns and operates 6 Drilling Units, the 2 drilling rigs Leiv Eiriksson and Eirik Raude and the 4 drill ships Ocean Rig Corcovado, Ocean Rig Olympia, Ocean Rig Poseidon and Ocean Rig Mykonos. All 6 units are constructed for Ultra Deep Waters and Harsh Environment. In addition it has 3 Ultra Deep Water Drillships under construction, capable to work in 12, 000 feet water depth.

DryShips Inc., a provider of marine transportation services for drybulk and petroleum cargoes and off-shore contract drilling oil services, announced that it has obtained unanimous consent from its existing syndicate members to amend the $495 million secured term loan facility to allow for full draw downs to finance the remaining costs of the Ocean Rig Mykonos based upon the employment of this drillship with Petrobras for 3 years for drilling offshore Brazil. Furthermore, cash collateral deposited for this drillship will be released. The above is subject to completion of definitive documentation. George Economou, Chairman and CEO commented: “We are pleased to announce the final financing package for Ocean Rig’s original newbuilding program.

Margareth Madè, the Italian actress who became a household word as the star of the Italian film “Baarìa,” will be the godmother of the Costa Favolosa (www.costafavolosa.com). The naming ceremony for the flagship of Costa Cruises, Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s no. 1 cruise company, the only one flying the Italian flag, will take place on 2nd July in the magnificent setting of the Piazza Unità d’Italia in Trieste. The Costa Favolosa, weighing 114,500 gross tonnage and carrying a total of 3,800 guests, will be the largest ship flying the Italian flag and a symbol of Italian pride that will sail the seven seas. The event to celebrate the ship’s naming will be a tribute to Italian identity: art…

The potential for sea tourism and its significance as a key factor in the development of the economies of Greece, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea region will be examined in depth during the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, scheduled to take place 21-22 June 2011 at the prestigious Onassis Cultural Centre in Athens. The forum will focus on three key areas of sea tourism: cruise shipping, the yachting industry and inter-island and passenger shipping. The first Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum comes at a time when this form of tourism is showing rapid growth globally…

DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS), or the Company, a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk and petroleum cargoes, and through its majority owned subsidiary, Ocean Rig UDW Inc., of off-shore contract drilling oil services, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. * On May 12, 2011, the Company was awarded contracts for the Ocean Rig Corcovado and the Ocean Rig Mykonos by Petróleo Brasileiro S.A (“Petrobras”) for drilling offshore Brazil.

DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) announced that its subsidiary Ocean Rig UDW Inc. has entered into firm contracts with Cairn Energy PLC for the Leiv Eiriksson and the Ocean Rig Corcovado for a period of approximately 6 months each. The total contract value including mobilization for the Leiv Eiriksson is approximately $95m. The mobilization period will start in direct continuation from the agreed release date from Petrobras. The total contract value including mobilization and winterization of the Ocean Rig Corcovado is approximately $142m. George Economou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DryShips commented:  " Following the signing of these contracts we are only left with one open drillship, the Ocean Rig Mykonos, that delivers in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Costa Cruises set to return to Trieste in 2012 with 28 calls and an estimated 65,000 passenger movements. Trieste – April 8, 2011 – Trieste will be hosting the naming ceremony on July 2 for the Costa Favolosa, the new flagship of Costa Cruises, which is the largest Italian travel group, Europe’s no.1 cruise company and also the only cruise operator whose fleet flies the Italian flag. The Costa Favolosa, weighing in at 114,500 gross tonnage and with accommodation for up to 3,800 total Guests…

ATHENS, GREECE – April 29, 2011 - DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) (the “Company” or “DryShips”), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk and petroleum cargoes and off-shore contract drilling oil services, announced the signing, by its majority-owned subsidiary Ocean Rig UDW Inc. (“Ocean Rig”), of the previously announced restructuring of its $1.1 billion Secured Term Loan Facility led by Deutsche Bank. Ocean Rig exercised two newbuilding options to construct Ultra Deepwater Drillships at Samsung Heavy Industries.

Blohm+Voss GMBH delivered of the new fast cruise ship, Olympia Explorer, to Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc. The vessel immediately sailed from the Blohm+Voss shipyard to the Port of Piraeus in Greece. The Olympia Explorer, together with her sister ship, Olympia Voyager, are the fastest cruise vessels of their size, performing unique cruises at speeds of up to 30 knots. "The new itineraries Royal Olympic Cruises will offer with this vessel have created considerable interest in the cruise market. The first cruises are already fully booked," added Pantazis. On her maiden voyage on May 3, the Olympia Explorer will start a series of weekly cruises calling at the ports of Piraeus, Corfu, Venice, Dubrovnik, Bari, Katakolon, Istanbul, Mykonos and Santorini.

The buoyant cruise industry now accounts for more than a quarter of a million jobs in Europe, over €10 billion direct expenditure and 15 million visits to European ports. The results were unveiled by the European Cruise Council (ECC) at the industry’s second annual “European Cruise Contribution”. “This is the first time we’ve been able to compare annual trends and the impact of the cruise industry on European job creation, wealth and tourism,” said David Dingle, chairman of the ECC and chief executive officer of Carnival UK.