Austal Vietnam to Build RoPax Vessel for The Degage Group
Austal Limited announced Austal Vietnam has been awarded a contract to design and construct a 71-meter roll-on-roll-off (RORO) passenger cargo vessel for The Degage Group of French Polynesia.The new steel monohull ferry design includes an aluminium superstructure accommodating up to 140 seated passengers and 17 crew, and features a main cargo deck area of 494 square meters; capable of transporting a combination of 10- and 20-foot containers, palletized cargo and vehicles.With a cruising speed of 12 knots and a range of 1âŚ
Austal Delivers High-speed Catamaran to Degage Group in French Polynesia
Austal Vietnam has delivered a new high-speed catamaran to the Degage Group of French Polynesia. The 66-meter Apetahi Express completed a series of sea trials off the coast of Vung Tau in May 2023 and is now preparing for its maiden voyage to French Polynesia. The ferry is anticipated to commence operations between Papeâete (Tahiti) and Vaitape (Bora Bora) in French Polynesia in July 2023.The new Austal Passenger Express 66 catamaran features a length overall (LOA) of 66.4 meters, beam of 15.2 meters and draft of 1.8 meters.
Zech Joins All American Marine as Business Development Manager
Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine (AAM) announced it has appointed Daniel Zech as the organizationâs business development manager.Zech, originally a Bellingham local, sailed on vessels from French Polynesia to the Caribbean for over a decade. His maritime career took him to the Charter House Yacht Club in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he managed day-to-day operations for a charter fleet of 28 catamarans and monohulls for multiple years. In addition, his experienceâŚ
Austal Launches High-speed Ferry for French Polynesia's Degage Group
Shipbuilder Austal Vietnam announced Wednesday that it has launched a new high-speed catamaran built at the companyâs shipyard in Vung Tau for the Degage Group of French Polynesia.The 66-meter Apetahi Express is undergoing final fit-out, prior to sea trials which are due to commence in May. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in June 2023. The new ferry is anticipated to commence operations between Papeâete (Tahiti) and Vaitape (Bora Bora) in French Polynesia in July 2023.Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg saidâŚ
Socatra to Install Rotor Sails on Its MR Tanker Alcyone
French ship owner and operator Socatra has signed a contract with auxiliary wind propulsion systems manufacturer Norsepower for the retrofit installation of two Norsepower Rotor Sailsď¸ on the medium range (MR) tanker Alcyone.The 50,000 dwt, 2022 built, French flag tanker - chartered by global energy company TotalEnergies â will be retrofitted with two 35 m x 5 m Norsepower Rotor Sails. The units will be delivered in December 2023 from Norsepowerâs new production hub in China, with installation scheduled for Q4 2023 or Q1 2024.According to NorsepowerâŚ
MAN 175D Propulsion Chosen for New High-speed Ferry
The Austal shipyard in Vietnam has ordered 4 × 16V175D-MM engines, delivering 2,720 kW at 1,800 rpm for water-jet propulsion, in connection with the building of a high-speed catamaran ferry for customer, the Degage Group. The 66-meter, 574-passenger ferry is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2023 and will operate as the Apetahi Express between Papeâete (Tahiti) and Vaitape (Bora Bora) in French Polynesia. The new ferry will have a contracted top speed of 35.8 knots and a range of 360 nautical miles.Tuanua DegageâŚ
USCG Report: Small Cutters Prove They Can Patrol a Big Ocean
The Coast Guardâs 353-ton, 154-foot fast response cutter (WPC) is capable of deploying independently to conduct missions that include port, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The service plans to build 64 of them to replace the 110-foot Island class patrol boats. The FRC has a range of 2,500 miles, but the endurance of the 24 crewmembers is normally limited to about five days based on the quantity of provisions carried. Both the 110s and 154s have about the same speed and rangeâŚ
Austal to Build High-speed Catamaran Ferry for Degage
Australian shipbuilder Austal has been awarded a âŹ20.5 million ( around USD 24 million) contract to design and build a 66-meter high-speed catamaran ferry for repeat client The Degage Group of French Polynesia.The new Austal âPassenger Express 66â catamaran features a length overall (LOA) of 66.4 meters, beam of 15.2 meters, and draft of 1.8 meters. Over two passenger decks, the vessel will be able to accommodate 574 passengers, with an additional 80 seats available on an external sun deck. Crew accommodation includes 7 two-berth cabins and 2 single-berth cabins.
Princess and Other Cruise Lines Extend Service Suspensions
Carnival Corpâs Princess Cruises said on Wednesday its voyages would remain suspended through the end of summer as reduced flights and travel bans around the globe bring the industry to a virtual standstill.Holland America Line, Carnivalâs another unit, said it has canceled all cruises for Alaska, Europe and Canada and New England for the year, as well as its Amsterdam vessel that was scheduled to depart in October to Fort Lauderdale, Florida from Boston.âAs we continue to navigate through these unprecedented and challenging timesâŚ
Scientists Study French Polynesia's Coral Reefs
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation has released their findings from the largest coral reef survey and mapping expedition ever conducted in French Polynesia.The Global Reef Expedition: French Polynesia Final Report provides a comprehensive summary of the research findings from the expedition, an assessment of the health and resiliency of French Polynesiaâs coral reefs, and recommendations for preserving French Polynesiaâs coral reefs into the future.The Foundation embarked on the Global Reef Expedition to understand the coral reef crisis on a global scale. As part of the Expedition, an international team of 73 scientists worked side by side with local experts to gain a thorough census of reef health throughout French Polynesia.Over the course of seven monthsâŚ
CNCo, SPREP Ink Recycling MOU for Pacific Islands
The China Navigation Company (CNCo) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP) have today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address critical waste management issues in the Pacific islands. Known as the âMoana Taka Partnershipâ, this MOU allows for CNCo vessels to carry containers of recyclable waste from eligible Pacific island ports, pro bono, to be sustainably treated and recycled in suitable ports in Asia Pacific. âThis historic partnership will be of great benefit to our Pacific islands, and one for which we are very appreciative to The China Navigation Company,â said Kosi Latu, Director General of SPREP. âOur Pacific islands face an immense waste management challenge.
Salvage: Refloating the Kea Trader
When the 2,194 TEU containership Kea Trader ran aground on the Durand Reef in the Pacific Ocean on July 12, Ardent was called in under a Lloydâs Open Form (LOF) to remove the stranded vessel. The ship was sailing from Papeete in French Polynesia to Noumea in New Caledonia, with 756 containers on board at the time of the incident. Ardent representative Bernard van Haeringen, said, âThe Kea Traderâs remote location in the Pacific is a hurdle that we are working against. Ardent first removed 600 tons of heavy fuel in early AugustâŚ
Fuel Removal from Grounded Kea Trader in Progress
Three weeks after the grounding of Kea Trader on a reef off New Caledonia, the removal of heavy fuel oil from the 2017-built containership is now underway and could be completed next week. According to Radio New Zealand, helicopters are being used to remove fuel from a ship stuck on a reef off New Caledonia. Oil is being moved from the vessel in tanks onto the nearby Chasseloup barge, London-based Lomar Shipping, the shipâs owner, informed. "The swells reportedly prevented the salvage teams to dock a barge next to the stricken ship as they plan to pump out the 750000 litres of fuel in its tanks. Due to the adverse sea conditions have made it impossible to extract the fuel direct to barges, hence helicopters are being used to shift the fuel," said the report.
Port Autonome de Papeete Orders Tug for Tahiti
Damen Shipyards said it has won an open tender for the supply of a tug to Port Autonome de Papeete on the Pacific island of Tahiti. Tahiti is part of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of the French Republic. The tug will be Damenâs popular ASD 2810 model, a rugged, versatile vessel capable of delivering 60 tonnes of bollard pull. Papeâete is the capital of French Polynesia and the economic hub of the archipelago. Port Autonome de Papeete serves a wide range of vessels including local ferriesâŚ
Cruise-Container Hybrid Ship Makes Debut
Aranui 5, a cruise ship / container ship hybrid, will make its maiden voyage from Tahiti to the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific Ocean at the end of November 2015. The Aranui 5 is replacing its predecessor, the Aranui 3 on a dual mission to bring travelers and commodities to the Marquesas Islands, the remotest archipelago in the world. The Aranui 5 will complete a circuit of 2,200 miles leaving from Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, and traveling to all six inhabited islands in the Marquesas chain. Making it into the archipelago alone takes over three dayâs sea journey. With a total length of 126m, featuring air-conditioning and liftsâŚ
HAL's World Cruise to Span 45 ports, 25 countries, 6 Continents
When ms Amsterdam departs Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 5, 2015, the cruise will span 114 days and call at 45 ports in 25 countries on six continents. Offering a refined and elegant âhome away from home,â Amsterdam guests will enjoy gracious service, superior amenities and many special Grand Voyage experiences. For guests who have less time on their hands, eight segments ranging in length from 22 to 57 days are available from departure ports along the route. Highlights of the roundtrip Fort Lauderdale journey include 11 overnight calls in some of the worldâs most exciting cities, transits of the Panama and Suez canals, crossing the equator and International Date Line, visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, evening theme balls, local entertainment and a host of other activities.
Tall Ship Delivers Adventure and Cargo in the South Pacific
Circling the world five times as part of her famed 30,000-mile circumnavigation voyages, the tall ship Picton Castle has often been called upon to deliver critically-needed goods, including medical supplies and thousands of pounds of donated books and educational materials, to remote island communities. For Captain Daniel Moreland, founder of the award-winning sail training program, these impromptu cargo missions are valuable teaching moments â an opportunity to learn how to safely loadâŚ
As Australia-Asia Trade Grows, So Too Does Bunker Use
OW Bunker confirmed an increase in demand for bunkers across the Pacific Islands, resulting from a further strengthening in trade between Australia, China, Indonesia and India and further growth in the domestic cruise industry. OW Bunker Australia, which acts as the OW Bunker Group's purchasing centre for the region, has reported that the Pacific Islands are experiencing an increase in demand for marine fuel as Australia's commodities markets and marine tourism industries continue on a positive growth trajectory. OW Bunker has confirmed that availability of both 0.1% MGO and 3.5% fuel oil across the region is sufficient to meet demand, with a strong supply infrastructure throughout the Pacific Islands. Stefan Poulus, Branch Manager, OW Bunker Australia.
Cousteau's Son to Host Cruise Ship Sailings
Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highly-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, announces that world-renowned oceanographer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau will guest host four sailings in 2013. Mr. Cousteau is a diplomat for the environment, educator, author, and film producer communicating his passion and concern for the Earth's oceans. For more than 60 years, he along with his father, the legendary Jacques Cousteau, and his family, have been part of the greatest exploration of the oceans in all of history. In 1999, Mr. Cousteau founded the Ocean Futures Society to explore global oceansâŚ
Coast Guard Icebreaker returns from Operation Deep Freeze
The Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star is scheduled to return to their homeport of Coast Guard Base Seattle at 10 a.m., Friday, March 21, 2014, following a 108-day deployment of Operation Deep Freeze 2014. Polar Star departed Seattle Dec. 3rd, 2013, and made port calls in Honolulu, Sydney, Australia, McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and Tahiti, French Polynesia. Having completed a reactivation that began four years ago, this deployment marks the first time in six years that a U.S. icebreaker has supported Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. Antarctic Programâs resupply efforts of McMurdo Station, Antarctica. In January, Polar Star departed Sydney to assist in the rescue effort of two ships, the Russian vessel Akademik Shokalsiky and the Chinese vessel Xue Long.
Sultan of Saudi Wins Perseus Award
Prince Khaled bin Sultan of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recognized for marine wildlife conservation & science contributions. Prince Khaled is the founder of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, dedicated to conservation of the world's oceans. For the past eleven years Prince Khaled has spearheaded the Foundation through his personal leadership, financial support, and by making the ships and aircraft of the Golden Fleet available to scientists from around the world to conduct research under the banner of Science Without Borders®.
Luxury Cruise Segment Contracts for MTN
MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) wins VSAT service contracts from four specialised luxury cruise ship operators. ⢠Windstar Cruises , a sailing luxury small ship cruise line based in Seattle, Wash. âOur team at MTN recognizes that no two customers are alike and it is our job to develop communication solutions that not only meet, but exceed their unique communications requirements,â said Brent Horwitz, senior vice president and general manager for MTN cruise and ferry services.
Maersk Closes South Sea Island Service
Maersk Line announce that the âTahiti Expressâ service to/from French Polynesia will close down at end of April 2013. The last vessel sailing on the Tahiti service is the BC San Francisco, 1317, expected to depart (ETD) from Auckland (New Zealand) on 23 April 2013 and expected to arrive (ETA) at Papeete (French Polynesia) on 29 April 2013. Maersk add that they regret the inconvenience this may cause, will make every effort to assist regarding the service change.