Passenger Ship Operators News

ABB will supply the power system for a hybrid car ferry serving a passenger route in Norway. The vessel will run as a hybrid but can be modified to run as a full electric ferry with shore charging system. According to ABB, the contract is another success in northern Europe, where regulation is causing passenger ship operators to look at green solutions. “This is another example of how ABB is at the forefront of energy storage solutions for the maritime industry,” said Sindre Sætre, ABB’s Director of Marine and Ports in Norway. This latest contract comes months after ABB secured the order to supply the power system for the Seasight battery sightseeing ferry, which will serve the UNESCO listed Nærøyfjord.

Bureau Veritas has developed a voluntary notation intended to assist shipbuilders and operators reduce underwater noise radiating from ships. The comprehensive set of standards and measuring services is grouped as NR614 Underwater Radiated Noise (URN). It aims to control and limit the environmental impact on marine fauna of all self-propelled ships and provide a standard and a system to assess compliance with specific vessel requirements for underwater radiated noise. Jean-Francois Segretain…

The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment (DE) is working on a mandatory Code for ships operating in Polar waters — widely known as the Polar Code, to supplement other regulatory instruments, including SOLAS and MARPOL. The Code will seek to address the specific risks relating to operations in Polar waters, taking into account the extreme environmental conditions and the remoteness of many locations. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), set up in 1991, to advocate and promote safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to the Antarctic, represents over 100 private sector companies – the majority of which are passenger ship operators.

Italian ferry operator Tirrenia has been awarded Rina’s COMFORT class notation for two high speed ferries. The 1,800-passenger 43 knot Scorpio, and the recently built 2,700-passenger 29 knot Bithya, have been recognized by Italian classification society RINA as compliant with COMFORT Class. The certification has been awarded to the two ships following a comprehensive series of tests carried out during normal operations at sea. Scorpio serves the Civitavecchia to Olbia route and Bithya serves the Genova to Porto Torres route. At the end of the tests, the ships have been found compliant with the noise and vibration limits established by RINA to ensure an outstanding level of passenger comfort.

Scandinavian passenger ship operators have specified Evac vacuum toilet and waste treatment for their latest newbuildings from Aker Kvaerner group yards in Finland. The 33,000gt/1,800-passenger vessel ordered by Birka Line from Aker Finnyards - dubbed the ‘Floating Caribbean’ - is designed to set new standards of year-round cruising in the Baltic after delivery in autumn 2004. An extensive range of accommodation and amenities spread over eight decks of the 11-deck ship will include a whole deck dedicated to passenger recreation and a large Spa area decorated with palms. Operating in the Baltic dictates a high priority on environmental friendliness in the design and equipment specification…

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The IMO stated that the diplomatic conference that met in London adopted a protocol to the Athens Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974. The Protocol would, if ratified by at least 10 States, impose a compulsory insurance requirement on passenger ship operators and raise liability limits to 250,000 Special Drawing Rights about $325,000. The amendments to the Convention are contained in a Protocol to the Athens Convention. IMO Secretary General William A. O'Neil said that the 2002 Protocol, when it comes into force, would provide a much-needed update to the 1974 Convention and he urged Governments to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible.

Aker Yards and the German TT-Line have signed a contract for retrofitting of four passenger-car ferries. The retrofit means renewing the vessels fuel systems to be more flexible and conforming to today’s demands. The project value is $9.1 million. The project will be executed on the yard in Helsinki during January-March 2006. The project will be managed by Aker Finnyards Lifecycle services, which offers comprehensive and cost efficient services to cruise and passenger ship operators. Established in 2003, the Lifecycle Services is a natural continuation of the yards long-term commitment to its customers. The target market is the whole Cruise and Ferry Operators Fleet.

Aker Yards and Silja Oy Ab have signed a contract for modernizing the two passenger-car ferries Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony. The refurbishment includes renewing the vessels passenger areas to conform to the demands of the future The project will be managed by Aker Finnyards Lifecycle services, which offers comprehensive and cost efficient services to cruise and passenger ship operators. The refurbishment will be carried out in cooperation with partners. The Turku Repair yard offers facilities, and the project means work for several turnkey contractors.